Global Eagle Entertainment subsidiary Row 44 has completed the first Ku-band wi-fi installation on Icelandair's 757 fleet, says the connectivity provider at the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) conference in Anaheim.

Installations will continue until the end of the year, says the wi-fi provider, which has more than 500 aircraft installed with the system. Icelandair flies 17 Boeing 757 aircraft.

Row 44 has also announced it has signed three multi-year contracts with Hughes Network Systems for satellite coverage across the North Atlantic, Russia and further areas of Europe. The agreement will provide "significant" increases in capacity, says the company.

"Our partnership with Hughes is a tremendous asset for us, as it has afforded us the ability to offer our customers a connection to the world's most advanced and expertly operated satellite network," says John LaValle, chief executive of Global Eagle Entertainment. "Through Hughes, we continue to be well-positioned for global growth with our industry-leading technology and our integrated content and connectivity platform."

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news