Thanks to Elon Musk’s Starlink, James Day was able to watch the World Cup while in the sky on a Virgin Atlantic flight, and had no streaming issues despite being 35,000ft up in the sky
Fans flying during World Cup games have been given an internet lifeline, ensuring they never miss a goal. Virgin Atlantic has fitted its planes with Starlink, the space Wi-Fi beamed down from thousands of Elon Musk’s satellites whizzing round the Earth. And unlike the dial-up misery you normally get at 35,000ft, this stuff actually works.
I tried it flying home from Orlando, watching the World Cup live while half the cabin snored. No buffering or frozen screens at the worst possible moment, just football, in the sky, as crisp as if you were on your sofa.
It is the same kit Virgin used to livestream an entire Sugababes gig from a plane back in May, beamed to fans on the ground. If it can handle ‘Push The Button’ at altitude, goalmouth scrambles become short change.
Best of all, it is free in every cabin, even economy, as long as you sign up to the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. While normal plane Wi-Fi bounces off satellites parked 22,000 miles up, which is why it moves like treacle, Starlink’s sit a few hundred miles away, so everything happens much faster.
I clocked 120Mbps — double my home broadband — from a mile high over the ocean, which will leave many travellers either impressed or insulted. Sam, a Chelsea fan from west London sitting next to me, watched Egypt come from a goal down to beat New Zealand 3-1 and was stunned. “I never expected to watch the game,” he said, “I’m supposed to be messaging my girlfriend back in the States.”
The only catch? You have to celebrate in total silence, like an away fan stuck in the home end, and Virgin reminds customers about etiquette such as always using headphones.
It is not just football, either. Wimbledon, the Grand Prix, the Lions tour, and even a test match available the second you step on board. TV addicts could also stream hit shows such as House of the Dragon as new episodes drop.
In Upper Class, business traveller Andy from Hampshire reckons it could change which airline people book. “It means I can get a full day’s work done, and that tips the needle,” he said.
While Virgin got there first in the UK, British Airways is scrambling to catch up, fitting Starlink to more than 500 planes from next year. Airlines including United, Qatar and Air France are already on board.
Meanwhile, World Cup pictures themselves have been on a journey. Every camera angle is gathered at a giant broadcast hub in Dallas, powered by tournament tech partner Lenovo.
Footage is then beamed to broadcasters worldwide and, eventually, to a bloke watching on a tablet somewhere over the Atlantic, ensuring the days of landing and frantically checking the score are finally over.