SmartSky Wins $22.7M Patent Infringement Case Against Gogo

Federal Jury Awards SmartSky $22.7 Million in Patent Infringement Case Against Gogo

A federal jury in the US District Court for the District of Delaware has ordered Gogo Business Aviation to pay $22.7 million to SmartSky Networks after determining that Gogo infringed multiple SmartSky patents related to air-to-ground (ATG) connectivity and 5G in-flight Wi-Fi technology. The verdict represents a significant development in the ongoing competitive battle between these two major players in the business aviation connectivity sector.

The patents at the center of the case cover critical technologies including beamforming handoff, unlicensed band beamforming handoff, horizon-oriented architecture, and spectrum-efficient reuse methods specifically designed for ATG service delivery. SmartSky filed the original lawsuit in 2022, accusing Gogo of utilizing its patented approach for delivering broadband to aircraft over unlicensed spectrum without authorization.

“As SmartSky has long maintained and demonstrated in practice, its patented technology has now been proven, in court, as the key to unlock unlicensed spectrum for ATG use,” stated SmartSky co-founder Ryan Stone following the verdict.

Significantly, the patents upheld in this case do not expire until 2033 and 2035, extending SmartSky’s intellectual property protection well into the next decade. SmartSky has indicated its intention to seek enhanced damages and ongoing royalties based on what the company characterizes as Gogo’s “continuing infringements.” The company argues that Gogo relied on SmartSky’s innovations to develop its own 5G service, which has faced delays related to microchip sourcing challenges.

Gogo has responded with strong disagreement, stating it maintains independent development of its 5G technology and asserting that their innovations do not infringe SmartSky’s patents. The company announced plans for a “vigorous” appeal of the verdict. In an official statement, Gogo emphasized that the ruling will not impact ongoing business operations or its planned 5G service rollout, and reiterated its commitment to delivering multi-orbit, multi-band in-flight connectivity solutions.

This verdict resolves only one component of the broader legal dispute. SmartSky has a separate antitrust lawsuit pending in federal court in North Carolina seeking up to $1 billion in damages, alleging that Gogo engaged in monopolistic practices that harmed SmartSky’s market entry and commercial viability.

Apcela, which acquired SmartSky’s ATG assets in 2024 and relaunched the service under its own brand, holds a worldwide license to the same patents upheld in this case and has welcomed the jury’s decision. The ruling underscores the complex intellectual property landscape in business aviation connectivity and the strategic importance of patented spectrum management technologies.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764126034199-964