Viasat announces iQe app for performance measurement beyond network speed

An impression of Viasat's ViaSat-3 GEO satellite.

Satellite communications provider Viasat announced plans to launch In-flight Quality of Experience (iQe) application offering users insight into JetXP’s connectivity performance.

Viasat’s iQe concept will move beyond the traditional in-flight connectivity performance measurement of relying on network speeds alone and include all relevant network metrics and presenting the findings in a simple format.

The approach of moving beyond measuring speed alone to focus on quality of service (QoS) with emphasis on metrics such as latency, jitter, packet loss and bandwidth was corroborated by a recently released study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School.

The report, titled ‘Redefining In-Flight Connectivity in Business Aviation: What Really Matters to Private Jet Passengers’, said the industry must move beyond measuring speed alone.

“Peak network speeds have been the primary measure of business aviation in-flight connectivity performance for too long. However, a single, holistic QoE score analysing several key metrics provides a more sophisticated measurement,” said Michael Schrage, research fellow at MIT Sloan School of Management and the report’s author.

“In business aviation, where even momentary outages can ruin multi-million-dollar deals, the move from engineering metrics to experience outcomes must be navigated at altitude and speed.”

Viasat said that its iQe application will roll out early next year and will leverage AI and advanced analytics to monitor a range of network metrics, delivering a single, intuitive QoE score that shows connectivity performance at a glance.

“It’s clear that the business aviation industry is shifting its focus from peak speed alone to the overall quality of experience. But what’s the best way to truly measure that, as outlined in this MIT report?” said Kai Tang, head of business aviation, Viasat.

“Our new iQe application provides the answer. This unique concept delivers direct visibility into JetXP’s connectivity performance for principals, flight crews and other stakeholders, incorporating all relevant network metrics and presenting the findings in a simple and easy-to-understand format, which aligns with MIT’s recommended approach. It will be available early next year through major app stores as well as a browser-based version, with secure login credentials to ensure user privacy.”

Viasat launched its JetXP business aviation in-flight connectivity service at the end of last year. JetXP is Viasat’s key offering for business aviation and is backed by extensive regulatory approval across the world, including India and China with support from its distribution partners such as Collins Aerospace, Gogo and Honeywell.

You can read more about Viasat’s offerings here.