Airspan Networks Holdings LLC, in collaboration with Gogo and GCT Semiconductor Holding, Inc., has successfully completed the industry’s first end-to-end 5G Air-to-Ground (ATG) call using commercial equipment. Conducted on June 16, 2025, at Airspan’s lab in Slough, UK, this milestone validates Airspan’s In Motion 5G platform and advances Gogo’s mission to deliver high-speed connectivity for business aviation by year-end 2025.
Airspan completes first 5G ATG call using commercial equipment.
Conducted with Gogo and GCT Semiconductor in Slough, UK, on June 16, 2025.
Utilizes Airspan’s In Motion 5G platform with GCT’s 5G chipset.
Supports ranges up to 300 km and speeds up to 1,200 km/hr.
Enables low-latency, high-reliability broadband for aviation and defense.
Gogo aims to deploy 5G ATG for 300+ pre-provisioned aircraft by end of 2025.
The successful 5G ATG call, conducted using a 50 MHz channel in the 2.4GHz spectrum band, leverages Airspan’s modular, Open RAN-based In Motion 5G platform. This platform, integrated with GCT’s thumbnail-sized 5G chipset, includes beamforming radios, centralized and distributed units (CU/DU), and patented software designed for long-range, low-latency communications in high-noise environments. Glenn Laxdal, President and CEO of Airspan, stated, “This successful call validates Airspan’s In Motion 5G platform and advances Gogo’s efforts to deliver 5G ATG broadband for business aviation.”
Airspan’s platform is engineered for high-performance connectivity at high speeds and altitudes, with tested ranges up to 300 km and speeds up to 1,200 km/hr. Key features include:
Long Range: Dynamic timing advance for extended distances between aircraft and base stations.
High-Speed Doppler Compensation: Mitigates Doppler effects at high velocities.
Beamforming and Tracking: Utilizes Massive MIMO antennas for high-speed beam tracking.
Interference-Based Scheduling: Manages interference through time and frequency-selective scheduling.
These capabilities enable applications beyond aviation, including drone connectivity, tactical defense networks, and emerging high-altitude platform (HAPS) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications.
The milestone builds on Gogo’s 5G infrastructure, including 170 towers across the U.S. and Canada and FAA-approved AVANCE LX5 Line Replaceable Units (LRUs). With over 300 aircraft pre-provisioned, Gogo plans to roll out 5G ATG connectivity by the end of 2025, offering enhanced video conferencing and streaming. Chris Moore, Gogo CEO, noted, “This is certainly a defining moment for business aviation connectivity.”
The achievement follows setbacks, including a 2023 delay due to a software glitch in a non-5G chip component, addressed by GCT and Airspan. Despite financial challenges at GCT, including an 85% revenue decline in Q1 2025, analysts project significant growth potential with 5G chipset shipments ramping up in H2 2025. The collaboration’s success positions Gogo and Airspan to capture a $2.1 billion market opportunity in business aviation connectivity.
Airspan Networks Holdings LLC is a U.S.-based provider of wireless network solutions and a recognized leader in Open RAN. Airspan has extensive expertise in the design of carrier-grade wireless networks and has shipped more than 1 million radios globally to over 1,000 customers.
Airspan’s reliable and scalable solutions support Macro Open RUs, In-Building Wireless, Critical Infrastructure, Fixed Wireless Access, Defense and Air-To-Ground, empowering businesses, governments, and service providers to build the networks of tomorrow, today.
GCT is a leading designer and supplier of advanced 5G and 4G semiconductor solutions.
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