SmartSky Networks ceases operations amid financial challenges

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SmartSky Networks ceases operations amid financial challenges

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By Sky Industry News

Aug 17, 2024

SmartSky Networks has ceased business operations, the company confirmed via email and on its website today.

The Morrisville, North Carolina-based air-to-ground (ATG) inflight connectivity provider stated it "ultimately could not secure the necessary financing to continue" its mission.

Its full statement reads: "SmartSky was founded with a bold vision: to revolutionize aviation communications. We successfully built and operated a leading, high-performance nationwide air-to-ground network using unlicensed spectrum, made possible by innovative patented technology. Along the way, our team dedicated great energy and expertise, earning several prestigious industry awards. While our products were groundbreaking and we were growing our market share, we ultimately could not secure the necessary financing to continue our mission.

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"We hope that SmartSky’s achievements have inspired others to dream big, push boundaries, and pursue transformative ideas to reshape the future. Any inquiries should be directed to the following address: smartsky@vlpc.com"

SmartSky entered the inflight connectivity scene roughly a decade ago with plans to offer next-generation ATG-powered IFC in business aviation.

In September 2016, it publicly confirmed its strategy to use the 2.4 GHz unlicensed spectrum band.

Though it originally planned to offer service across CONUS by mid-2017, its nationwide network went live in summer 2022.

The company has been engaged in a protracted lawsuit against Gogo, the dominant provider of IFC in the US business aviation market. SmartSky claims it is owed "significant" damages from Gogo for alleged patent infringement. A trial is scheduled for April 2025.

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