Could this flat antenna finally deliver solid in-flight Wi-Fi?

As a frequent flier trying to get some work done while traveling, the frustration of slow-to-no Wi-Fi during a flight is unmatched. The inability to do certain tasks makes it tough to use transit time efficiently. This means less time for friends and family back on the ground, something road warriors already deem precious.

A company called Kymeta has raised $50 million to address this issue by building flat-panel antennae for satellite communications.  The flagship product will be the mTenna, which is roughly a half-inch thick and between 20 and 40 inches wide. It's so flat that you would never even notice its position on the aircraft. This is important because airlines want only lighter aircraft with low drag to reduce fuel consumption, and it will also allow smaller private jets to have full connectivity.

Another important feature is that there are no actual moving parts. One current iteration of antennae, created by Panasonic and used by the likes of United, is able to move around to reposition itself to capture the strongest signal. This repositioning makes for faster speeds but also increased maintenance costs as movement means breakage. The mTenna has a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between two circuit boards, which means that it can electronically reposition itself to get the best signal. All of this, and the antenna can be powered by no more than a USB cable.

The performance is so promising that competitor Panasonic is rushing its own  flat, electronically-controlled "Slim-Fit connectivity" product to market.

Exciting, right? Alas, the timeline for the mTenna is less so. We can expect to see its flat, electronically-controlled antennas in 3-5 years — just in time for our download of the complete Game Of Thrones anthology.