Home / Business and Economy / SmartSky Seeks Royalties, Not Injunction, From Gogo
SmartSky Seeks Royalties, Not Injunction, From Gogo
27 Nov
Summary
- SmartSky won a patent suit, awarded $22.7 million, but won't block Gogo's 5G.
- SmartSky now seeks ongoing royalties for Gogo's use of patented technology.
- Gogo proceeds with 5G rollout, preparing for FAA approvals post-flight tests.
SmartSky Networks has decided not to seek an injunction against Gogo's 5G air-to-ground rollout in the United States, despite recently prevailing in a patent infringement lawsuit. A federal jury awarded SmartSky $22.7 million in damages, but the company now plans to pursue ongoing royalties for Gogo's utilization of the patented technology.
Gogo, while stating it will pursue all legal remedies and appeals, asserts that the verdict does not affect its operations or the pending launch of its 5G service. The in-flight connectivity provider is preparing for Federal Aviation Administration approvals, having completed flight tests for software that enables aircraft to connect to its terrestrial cellular tower network.
Complementing its terrestrial network, Gogo utilizes satellite capacity for global coverage. The company recently acquired Satcom Direct to strengthen its worldwide service capabilities. Gogo's strategy involves integrating 5G ATG with its multi-orbit satellite network, allowing for a flexible, multi-spectrum approach to in-flight connectivity.
