A plan has been devised by Iran Space Agency and the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran to enable Iranian airlines to offer high-speed in-flight WiFi.
ISA Chief Morteza Barari said all Iranian airlines will offer WiFi Internet, Tabnak reported.
"The Civil Aviation Organization of Iran has agreed to hand over a plane to ISA technicians for the initial testing," he added.
“The planned Internet service will be powered by communication satellites, as the regular BTS facilities used by mobile network companies are not strong enough to cover passengers' mobile SIMs during flights. “
BTS or base transceiver station is a piece of equipment that facilitates wireless communications between user equipment and a network. UEs are devices like mobile phones and computers with wireless Internet connectivity.
Barari said the new equipment on planes will be linked to communication satellites to provide passengers with high-speed Internet.
According to the space agency chief, this is a complex project that takes much testing and investment before the service could be rolled out in the country.
WiFi on Planes
Checking social media platforms above the clouds, writing emails or streaming a movie, these are what more and more airlines are offering passengers by setting up Internet packages for different lengths of time and with varying connection speeds.
But how can an Internet signal be transmitted back and forth between the aircraft’s cabin and ground control?
An antenna located on the rear of the plane’s hull connects to the closest satellite and brings the signal on board. Geostationary satellites are typically used for this. These satellites exchange signals with various ground stations on earth.
With some systems, passengers can surf the web on board during takeoff and landing because their radio waves do not interfere with aircraft electronics, even during this critical flight phase. Other systems can only be used from a flight altitude of roughly 3,000 meters.
The most stable connection between an aircraft and satellites is reached in clear, cloudless skies, or over the cloud cover.
Transportation and Connectivity
This is not the first time Iranian authorities are trying to give transportation services a boost by offering Internet access to passengers.
Earlier in December 2018, Islamic Republic of Iran Railways signed an agreement with Mobile Telecommunications Company of Iran to provide 4G coverage on the key railroad connecting Mashhad to Tehran and Qom.
MCI will provide commuters traversing across Tehran, Mashhad and Qom with 4G services by March 2020. The railroad currently offers 2G and 3G coverage.
With a track length of 811 km, the railroad which connects the three cities is the most frequented route in Iran. An estimated 3.2 million people used the Khorasan Razavi railroad in the first quarter of the current fiscal (started March 21), up 22% year-on-year.
In the last Iranian year, 24.5 million people travelled by train nationwide, with half the number using railroads to and from Khorasan Razavi Province.
There are 12,500 kilometers of railroads in Iran, 1,500 km (or 12%) of which are in Khorasan Razavi Province. Mashhad, the provincial capital and the second most populous city in Iran, is home to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (PUBH), the eighth Imam of Shias. The metropolis annually hosts close to 25 million Iranian and foreign pilgrims and tourists.
Future Plans
MCI chief, Hamid Farhang, said the next move is to extend 4G coverage to the 290-km railroad that links Tehran to Zanjan. No timetable has been specified for this phase.
As per an agreement, MCI will be the exclusive provider of Internet services along the track and at the stations. This will not limit the access of subscribers to other operators and communications will be channeled through the MCI infrastructure. MCI will charge operators for its services.
Farhang said as per ICT Ministry data, 60% of domestic railroads have 2G coverage and 38% are connected to the 3G network.
“At a time when Internet is so closely intertwined with people’s lives, [outdated] 2G and 3G technology are no longer acceptable. These services are awfully slow. We want to provide passengers with high-speed Internet, keeping them connected throughout the journey. Enhanced connectivity in trains can motivate people to choose rail transport as a preferred mode of travel,” he added.
Saeed Mohammadzadeh, the head of Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, said the project can be extended to the entire national railroad network.
The infrastructure for developing high-speed Internet already exists in the railroad network, "as IRIR has been developing the routes simultaneously with communications infrastructure and fiber optic facilities", he said.
Experts say enhanced 4G coverage will help promote the emergence of innovative startups providing passengers with a gamut of online services.
Speaking at the time, ICT Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi emphasized that providing decent communication services is vital for attracting passengers to opt for this means of transportation.
“Besides passenger satisfaction, the strong communication facilities will enhance travel security and help prevent bitter incidents,” he said.
