American wireless carrier AT&T has dropped plans to introduce 4G LTE wireless Internet access on commercial flights.
Several US media reported that Dallas-based AT&T decided to scrap its plan to launch Internet on commercial flights to conserve cash as it expands internationally. Last week, the second-biggest U.S. mobile-phone carrier said it would slash its Capex plan by 14 percent to about $18 billion for 2015.
In April, AT&T said that it would work to build a land-to-air high-speed network to serve airlines with in-flight Wi-Fi Internet access. The service, in partnership with Honeywell International, was to be introduced as soon as late 2015, mounting a potential challenge to Wi-Fi provider Gogo, Bloomberg reported.
AT&T that competes with T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, etc. reduced the Capex forecast last week at the same time the U.S. phone company announced the $2.5 billion acquisition of Grupo Iusacell in Mexico.
Fletcher Cook, a spokesman for AT&T, said the global telecom operator would be focusing on transformative investments, such as international and video.
editor@telecomlead.com
