In-Flight Connectivity to Be $130 Billion Market in a Generation, Inmarsat-Backed Study Says

In-flight connectivity could be a $130 billion market globally within 20 years, representing $30 billion additional revenue for airlines by 2035, said a London School of Economics and Political Science study commissioned by Inmarsat, the company said Tuesday. It said in-flight connectivity could provide $1 billion revenue for airlines by 2018, with most coming from broadband access, with advertising, e-commerce and premium content adding to that total. It said by 2035, broadband access revenue could hit $15.9 billion, with e-commerce another $6.8 billion and ads $6 billion. The LSE study said roughly 53 of the estimated 5,000 airlines worldwide offer in-flight connectivity, but it will be ubiquitous by 2035.