Gogo updating ATG network to newer technology
Gogo expects to transition to the new LTE network at the beginning of 2026, and at that time anyone with a legacy Gogo system on board their aircraft will lose their inflight connectivity unless they upgrade to an AVANCE L3, L5 or LX5 system.
And while 15 months from now might seem like a long time, demand for shop space is already becoming limited, so it’s important to schedule your upgrade soon before space gets even tighter. Those who wait and don’t act sooner than later are at risk of losing their Gogo service before they complete the upgrade to AVANCE.
“The migration to LTE technology for our network is great news for our legacy customers,” said Sergio Aguirre, Gogo’s president and COO. “When operators put an AVANCE system on board, they’ll see an immediate improvement in their system’s performance, up to a 40% improvement, with another boost once the LTE network is turned on. The key here is to get the upgrade done as soon as possible and we’re offering significant incentives to make it affordable and as easy to complete as possible.”
The incentives, which apply to the standard purchase price of the hardware, are available to customers who upgrade to AVANCE, and they are significant: $50,000 for an upgrade to AVANCE L5 and $25,000 for an upgrade to AVANCE L3 (MAX and PLUS configurations).
“The incentives will expire, though, and we’re already starting to see limitations on dealer availability,” Aguirre explained. “Getting the upgrade completed sooner than later ensures you’ll get space at a participating MRO. The closer to the deadline we get, the less likely you’ll get a dedicated slot.”
As it relates to aircraft downtime, Aguirre says that the company’s engineers have worked hard to develop installation guidelines for AVANCE systems so that upgrades can be completed as quickly as possible.
“It’s not a difficult installation in most instances,” he says. “For the majority of AVANCE L3 installations, you simply change the LRU and add some additional I/O, and that’s it. In some limited cases, you may also need to change some cabling. AVANCE L5 upgrades require a change to the fuselage-mounted antennas to bidirectional units.
“The simplicity of the installation is a big reason why we’re encouraging customers to upgrade when their aircraft is in for routine maintenance or inspections. The changes aren’t extensive; it just takes planning,” Aguirre continues. “And then once the AVANCE hardware is installed in the aircraft, future upgrades will be as simple as downloading new software over the air.”
Gogo dealers offering slot programs
To help complete the AVANCE upgrades more swiftly, several of Gogo’s authorized dealers have recently announced they are dedicating floor space and specialized staff to the project. Act soon to ensure you don’t lose your inflight connectivity.
