Airtel joins global alliance to bring in-flight data connectivity

Bharti Airtel has joined a new global collaboration to bring high-speed and uninterrupted in-flight data connectivity to its subscribers.

The global partnership known as 'Seamless Alliance', whose other founding members include OneWeb, Airbus, Delta and Sprint, will work towards leveraging satellite technology to offer high-speed data connectivity to mobile users even when they are up in the air, an Airtel statement said.

"Airtel has joined the Seamless Alliance which will usher in a new era of open innovation for mobile operators and airlines by empowering mobile operators to extend their services into airline cabins," the statement added.

The alliance would eliminate the immense costs and hurdles commonly associated with acquisition, installation, and operation of data access infrastructure by streamlining system integration and certification, providing open specifications for interoperability, increasing accessibility for passengers and enabling simple and integrated billing.

Airtel is the third largest mobile operator in the world with operations in 16 countries across Asia and Africa. Over 370 million mobile customers across Airtel's global network will be able to enjoy uninterrupted access to high-speed data services even while they are in-flight, the statement added.