Out of funds: SmartSky ceases operations

Aircraft connectivity provider SmartSky Networks, found in 2011, has announced that it has ceased business operations effective August 16, 2024 citing failure to secure the required funds.

The abrupt closure of SmartSky has left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over its customers, particularly regarding the fate of their now-obsolete hardware.

“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,” the company’s website read.

“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.”

According to insiders, the company spent tens of millions of dollars to set up the connectivity infrastructure before going live in 2021.

“We hope that SmartSky’s achievements have inspired others to dream big, push boundaries, and pursue transformative ideas to reshape the future,” said the company.

Earlier in June, Volato revealed the first HondaJet in its fleet to be equipped with the SmartSky LITE in-flight connectivity system; claimed to be the only streaming-level connectivity solution for small business aircraft.

SmartSky’s next-generation Air-to-Ground (ATG) in-flight connectivity network was designed to deliver solutions are available for all sizes of business aircraft with supplemental type certificates (STCs) available and in progress for more than 16,000 in-service models.