Global Eagle Entertainment, a provider of content and digital media for airlines, has signed on Thai Airline Nok Air to provide content, connectivity and digital solutions for the carrier’s free in-flight WiFi service.
According to Global Eagle, Nok Air is the first airline in Asia to offer free inflight WiFi connectivity. The satellite-delivered service is provided to Nok Air by Thaicom PLC. In addition to Nok Air, Global Eagle and Thaicom will jointly develop, implement and support inflight connectivity solutions for airlines in Thailand and the surrounding region.
"We're very excited to be the first in Asia to offer free inflight WiFi to our passengers on top of our other free services. This is a testament to our promise of being proactive in bringing new and innovative services to our passengers. Inflight WiFi will provide our passengers with a whole new travel experience, as they can still connect to what is important to them at 35,000 feet in the air," said Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin in a statement.
Global Eagle was formed in 2011 by former CBS Entertainment and Sony Pictures Entertainment president Jeff Sagansky and former MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan as a special purpose acquisition company and raised about $190 million to invest in the in-flight entertainment industry.
"We're thrilled with the launch of another customer as we bring market-leading connectivity and content solutions to Nok Air and its passengers," said Global Eagle CEO Dave Davis in a statement. "We believe our satellite connectivity service, which operates both over land and water, provides the optimal solution for Nok Air, which has many flights on over-water routes to vacation destinations. Supported by our partnership with Thaicom, we remain focused on further expanding our presence across the growing South East Asia region."
