Netflix to do in-flight Streaming

Netflix is offering its bandwidth tech to airlines for better in-flight streaming

One day you could stream Snakes on a Plane on a plane

by Chaim Gartenberg@cgartenberg

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Netflix is going to start partnering with airlines to provide them with its mobile streaming technology. This will start next year as part of an effort to get airlines to provide better in-flight Wi-Fi, according to a report from Variety. The reasoning is simple from Netflix’s perspective: the better in-flight Wi-Fi is, the more passengers can use it to watch Netflix while on planes.

Netflix has, over the years, already had to develop better bandwidth technologies for streaming video on mobile devices working through unreliable cellular connections, so it seems logical that the company’s tech could be used to improve in-flight Wi-Fi, too. According to Netflix, the company’s tech could save airlines up to 75 percent in bandwidth costs while offering better internet.

As Variety notes, Netflix has already partnered with airlines in the past to offer free Wi-Fi, including Virgin America, Aeromexico, Qantas, and Virgin Australia. Coming from there, the new initiative to help improve airlines’ Wi-Fi feels like a pretty natural next step for the company.