Gogo, a US-based inflight connectivity provider serving business, military, and government aircraft worldwide, said it has completed flight testing and validation of its next-generation air-to-ground (ATG) 5G connectivity network, clearing the way for commercial service across the contiguous US and parts of southern Canada beginning in January 2026.
The company said the test campaign included more than 30 flight hours across 20 routes to verify network performance and coverage under normal operating conditions. Gogo said the trials confirmed that its 5G air-to-ground tower network is ready to enter commercial service, delivering high-speed, low-latency connectivity for business and special-mission aircraft.
During the testing, the ATG 5G network delivered download speeds exceeding 80 Mbps and upload speeds of more than 20 Mbps, performance levels that Gogo said allowed simultaneous streaming and internet browsing onboard connected aircraft. The company positioned the results as a step change from earlier-generation ATG systems, which have traditionally been optimized for basic connectivity rather than bandwidth-intensive applications.
With flight testing complete, Gogo said it has signed its first paying customer and has about 450 aircraft already equipped to activate the new service beginning early next year. The company expects the number of connected aircraft to grow as operators upgrade existing systems and add the 5G capability across their fleets.
Chief executive Chris Moore said the company has completed testing after earlier schedule delays and is now moving into service activation for the new ATG broadband network across North America.
To support fleet-wide adoption, Gogo said it has sought 33 supplemental type certificates covering many aircraft types operating in the continental US. Of those, 28 STCs have been completed, with the remaining five expected to be finalized soon. Once approved, the STCs would open the market to more than 7,500 aircraft, requiring only a minor system upgrade to enable the new 5G service, Gogo said.
The ATG 5G rollout complements Gogo’s broader connectivity portfolio, which combines air-to-ground technology with satellite-based services across multiple orbits and frequency bands. The company serves business aviation, military, and government customers, offering solutions tailored to aircraft ranging from light jets to large-cabin platforms.
Gogo has positioned the new ATG 5G network as a core component of its North American connectivity strategy, particularly for operators who fly primarily over land and want high-performance broadband without relying exclusively on satellite coverage. As service activation begins in January, the company is expected to focus on converting pre-provisioned aircraft while expanding its STC footprint to capture a larger share of the business aviation fleet.
The launch comes amid rising expectations for inflight connectivity, as passengers increasingly expect aircraft cabins to support streaming, video conferencing, and other bandwidth-intensive applications comparable to ground-based networks.