M1 launches unlimited in-flight data roaming with 18 airlines

Singapore's third-largest telecommunications company M1 has partnered with 18 airlines to offer unlimited in-flight data roaming from SG$25.

Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Emirates are some of the airlines where the in-flight connectivity will be available when the airlines are logged on to M1's in-flight network, OnAir.

Roaming subscription customers will be charged SG$0.20 per 10KB before they're capped at SG$25 per day. Meanwhile, pay-per-use customers will be charged SG$0.24 per 10KB and capped at SG$30 per day.

P. Subramaniam, M1 chief marketing officer, said in a statement that people can now stay connected even when they're flying.

"With our affordable in-flight data roaming service, travellers can stay in touch with their loved ones, answer important email or simply get the latest social media updates," he said.

The company added that the in-flight network is integrated with its Network Lock feature aimed to protect customers from unintended usage and charges on non-preferred network.

But M1 aren't the only ones offering connectivity to customers. Travellers on short-haul flights across Europe travelling with German carrier Lufthansa can expect onboard Wi-Fi services from 2016.

The airline will be partnering with Inmarsat to give customers the option to use "superior applications" and streaming through their mobile devices. In addition, flyers will be allowed to send and receive text messages "for the transfer of data based on their own mobile phone contract".

Lufthansa said it plans to offer the Wi-Fi platform, called BoardConnect, to other airlines in the future, following a trial flight programme conducted together with Deutsche Telekom.

Meanwhile, Air China flights that travel between Beijing and Chengdu in China have been offering passengers free Wi-Fi since April last year in partnership with telecom equipment maker ZTE.