Federal Jury Rules in Favor of SmartSky in Air-to-Ground Connectivity Dispute
A federal jury in the US has ordered Gogo Business Aviation to pay $22.7 million to SmartSky Networks for patent infringement related to air-to-ground connectivity and 5G in-flight Wi-Fi. Gogo plans to appeal the verdict, which resolves a long-running dispute between the two companies. SmartSky, which ceased operations in August 2024, had accused Gogo of using its patented approach for delivering broadband to aircraft over unlicensed spectrum. The verdict marks a significant development in the business aviation connectivity market, with implications for the competitive landscape and intellectual property protection.