BT gives fliers e-mail, Net access
![zd-defaultauthor-martin-veitch.jpg](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/1e2053c0a5403224a068353b3f9ecf707f5a3f4c/2014/12/04/704444f5-7b6c-11e4-9a74-d4ae52e95e57/zd-defaultauthor-martin-veitch.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=192&width=192)
BT is to introduce a service that lets users travelling by air send e-mail and access the Internet. The service will also allow remote, air-borne workers to dial in to terrestrial computers via BT software and the Skyphone consortium's satellite communications network.
A beta test programme has been underway for the air-to-ground satellite-based service and the service will formally go live early in 1997. The project - which BT claims is the first such service in the world - supplements BT's satellite online shopping and Reuters news services on Singapore Airlines and other carriers. Testing is being carried out at 2.4Kbits/sec but BT expects to ultimately offer 9.6Kbits/sec access.
BT claims there are more than four billion air travellers per year and over 1,000 commercial aircraft that have satellite communications capabilities.