Google in talks to acquire Nokia’s in-flight broadband
Google is in talks to acquire Nokia Oyj’s airplane broadband business as the Alphabet Inc. unit seeks to tap into new services and reach more users by offering in-flight highspeed internet, people familiar with the matter said.
Nokia’s technology could help Google offer a faster alternative to existing Wi-Fi on airplanes, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. Talks are advanced and an agreement may be reached soon, the people said.
A final decision hasn’t been made and the companies could still decide against a deal, the people said. Representatives for Alphabet and Nokia declined to comment.
Nokia’s LTE A2G cellularbased system also creates a direct link between an aircraft and the ground instead of just bouncing the signal off of a satellite, ena- bling in-cabin high-speed internet services using Wi-Fi, according to its website.
Onboard internet has been a consumer pain point for years, with spotty service and weak bandwidth. Yet travelers often pay handsomely for any connectivity on flights. That’s a business opportunity and also a chance for Google to expand its services.
The move could create a wealthy new competitor to Gogo Inc., an existing provider of in-flight internet service. Shares of Chicago-based Gogo pared gains Tuesday on news of the Google-Nokia talks, finishing with an advance of 2% to $8.86 in New York, giving the company a market value of $769 million.
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