LOUISVILLE, Colo. – The Federal Communications Commission approved seven additional cellular carriers to use AirCell Inc.’s air-to-ground communications system, which is targeted at general aviation aircraft and regional airlines.
“We are very pleased with the latest round of authorizations,” Jim Stinehelfer, president and chief executive officer of AirCell, said. “If you look at the fact that we just received a waiver to operate commercially less than a year ago, it is overwhelming how fast we’ve been able to implement our business strategy. We have activated over 30 sites in the last year.”
The authorization allows cellular-like services to airplanes based on AirCell’s proprietary technology.
This technology, which re-uses existing cellular network spectrum and infrastructure, allows critical information to be accessed quickly in case of emergency and is a reliable alternative to normal radios in aircraft. AirCell also allows aviation customers to place phone calls and access faxes, e-mail and the Internet at speeds unattainable before.
The seven new providers, Alltel Corp., American Rural Cellular Inc., Western Wireless Corp., Centennial Cellular Corp., CenturyTel Inc., Kentucky RSA4 Cellular General Partnership and Cellular One of Northeast Arizona, join previous companies who were granted FCC permission to use AirCell technology in December 1998.
