Boeing, StarHub to study linking in-flight access

SINGAPORE -- Connexion by Boeing and StarHub, Singapore's leading communications provider, have signed a memorandum of understanding for an associate service provider agreement that will add the Connexion by Boeing real-time, high-speed Internet service to StarHub's wireless broadband services portfolio. The two companies said customers will benefit from a simplified billing process.

As part of the understanding, Connexion by Boeing and StarHub said they will explore linking their respective networks, providing StarHub customers with a seamless and simplified solution for accessing the full richness of the Internet when in flight. Airline passengers who have a StarHub account will simply have to enter their user ID and password to access the Connexion by Boeing service, and they will subsequently receive their billing for service access as an add-on to their existing StarHub bill.

"With this associate service provider agreement, the Connexion by Boeing service becomes more accessible to potential customers on commercial flights in and out of Singapore," said Connexion by Boeing Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Sales David Friedman. "Working together with StarHub, we are providing business and leisure travelers with the seamless opportunity to have affordable, high-speed Internet access in planes through their local mobile services provider."

Freedom to surf

StarHub customers will soon have the freedom to surf on the Internet, connect with their friends and business colleagues in flight through e-mail and web SMS chats, and retrieve critical information from their office network," said Kyong Yu, Head of StarHub's Interactive Services. "This added convenience helps to ensure that our customers stay continually in touch with the world as they travel across it. Connexion by Boeing has delivered on a promise that will revolutionise in-air communications."

StarHub is a pioneer and leader of wireless broadband services in Singapore. It is also chairing the global Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), an alliance of wireless broadband operators aimed at increasing WiFi adoption and improving user experience across opera-tors. The WBA currently has 18 international members as of December 2003.

Connexion by Boeing, recipient of the 2003 World Travel Award for World's Leading High-Speed Inflight Internet Services Provider, brings high-speed Internet, data and entertainment connectivity to travelers via a broadband connection to the aircraft. Connexion by Boeing has definitive agreements with Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Japan Airlines, ANA and Kingdom Holding Co. to equip their long-haul aircraft with the service. In addition, Singapore Airlines and China Airlines have announced their intent to install the Connexion by Boeing system on their long-range aircraft. Connexion by Boeing also offers a high-speed connectivity solution for the business aviation and maritime markets.

StarHub is a Singapore-based info-communications company providing a full range of information, communications and entertainment services over fixed, mobile and Internet platforms. It operates its own nation-wide broadband network that delivers multi-channel cable TV, data, voice and Internet access. StarHub will also offer Digital Cable Services in 2004. On the cellular front, StarHub also operates its own GSM/GPRS network and will have its 3G network ready by end 2004.