What you need to know about airplane wifi

In short, airplane mode ensures your device stops sending and receiving radio signals. But why is this important?

When you make a call or send a message, your device connects to the nearest cell tower on the ground, which then relays the signal onward.

However, at high altitudes, this process becomes more challenging. The higher you fly, the harder it is for your phone to maintain a connection with a ground-based cell tower.

As a result, your phone continuously searches for a signal, increasing its transmission power, which can interfere with the airplane’s electronics, potentially disrupting the pilots’ communication and navigation systems.

Sometimes, impatient passengers turn off airplane mode just before landing, causing static interference in communication between pilots and air traffic control.

The demand for onboard wifi is increasing rapidly. Passengers want to stay connected, work, or scroll through social media during long flights.

Airlines are responding to this demand by offering wifi as a premium service, and on some flights, even for free. This is made possible by advancements in satellite technology.

If cell signals can interfere with airplane systems, why is wifi allowed? The answer lies in the specialized systems installed in planes and the careful management of the network.

Airplane wifi operates through unique systems designed for safe, controlled use of radio signals.

Airplane wifi almost always relies on satellite connections. With satellite wifi, the plane connects directly to a satellite in space, which then links to the internet on the ground.

These signals do not interfere with airplane systems because they operate on different frequency bands.

When using airplane wifi, airplane mode remains active; only wifi is enabled. This prevents your phone from constantly searching for a ground-based cell tower and instead seeks a local internet connection.

Aircraft offering wifi usually have a small antenna installed on the fuselage. This antenna connects to a satellite in space, which then communicates with a ground-based network, allowing the airplane’s antenna to spread a network throughout the cabin.

Wifi systems on airplanes are carefully regulated. The signals are closely monitored and have lower power than mobile phone radio signals. Even if you can connect to the internet onboard, it is unlikely to be a high-speed connection.