Bombardier Business Aircraft has partnered with SmartSky to provide SmartSky 4G LTE-based network on business jets, including Learjet, Challenger and Global, over the continental US.

The carrier’s service centre network will install equipment of SmartSky 4G, which is a new network to be launched later this year.

SmartSky’s 4G beamforming technology delivers signal that locks onto an aircraft. By making use of 60MHz of spectrum on an air-to-ground (ATG) platform, it provides unrestricted access to the web, which in turn enables passengers to stream, chat, text, call and videoconference.

"SmartSky 4G is the only inflight network capable of offering services in which bi-directional high bandwidth and low latency are essential."

This service will complement Bombardier WAVE, which enables internet connectivity on Global aircraft through a satellite network.

Bombardier Business Aircraft services sales and authorised service facilities vice-president Chris Milligan said: "This is the airborne network experience our customers have been waiting for."

The company currently has seven fully owned service centres in Dallas, Hartford, Fort Lauderdale, Tucson and Wichita in the US; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Singapore.

It also has a line maintenance station in Nice, France, and a total of 15 customer response team mobile units worldwide.

SmartSky Networks president Ryan Stone said: "SmartSky 4G is the only in-flight network capable of offering services in which bi-directional high bandwidth and low latency are essential.

"That includes two-way streaming video or support of new advanced applications optimised to take advantage of ultrafast connectivity."

Last November, the company completed a series of tests involving WAVE service aboard its Global aircraft experimental test bed.