Qantas to offer Netflix, Spotify and Foxtel via Wi-Fi

[badseed]

Does this just store the most frequently used media?

No - it's everything. It's basically a fancy networking controller with 160tb of storage. Here's some more info: This Box Can Hold an Entire Netflix. The current units deployed in Australia are actually smaller and lighter.

It does note that daily Netflix updates can be up to 8tb (albeit in the US and back when the library was more extensive - so I suspect ours would be maybe 2.5tb max) so I'm not sure how QF would handle that on every aircraft. It'd be too much of a hassle to switch racked units in and out every day. Maybe we'll see CAT6 ethernet cables connected at overnight stops? ;-)

Could lead to some interesting announcements : 'Qantas would like to apologise for the short delay. We're currently awaiting the final three episodes of Downton Abbey Season 6 to finish transferring, but after that we'll be on our way.'

 

[badseed]

Can you ask your mate what this service costs and what latency can you expect?

A standard 4mb sat service on 4:1 contention start at about 2.5K up to 10K a month.... with latency around 1000ms....

Latency typically in the 600 to 1200 range in the US so I wouldn't expect anything better here. Mate can't really give me a figure on cost - he doesn't work in client-side / sales - but he said the annual contract value will likely be in the low double digit millions.

He said the Foxtel stream will likely have a dedicated antenna or quarantined chunk of bandwidth that will receive all channels, and their system will then re-stream it throughout the aircraft. Similar to hotel setups.

 

[RichardMEL]

Latency typically in the 600 to 1200 range in the US so I wouldn't expect anything better here. Mate can't really give me a figure on cost - he doesn't work in client-side / sales - but he said the annual contract value will likely be in the low double digit millions.

He said the Foxtel stream will likely have a dedicated antenna or quarantined chunk of bandwidth that will receive all channels, and their system will then re-stream it throughout the aircraft. Similar to hotel setups.

This is exactly how I'd expect it to happen. it makes logical sense

 

[RichardMEL]

AusBT is reporting 12Mbps per device on the trials.

https://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-inflight-wifi-trials-peg-the-needle-at-12mbps-per-device

 

[greyyy]

Well, I guess that explains that SYD-SYD flight it did over the weekend https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/qf6162/#c7f0abe

 

[moa999]

And AusBT has tweeted a pic that does show a port for offline data

https://twitter.com/AusBT/status/833914046839525376

 

[clazman]

No - it's everything. It's basically a fancy networking controller with 160tb of storage. Here's some more info: This Box Can Hold an Entire Netflix. The current units deployed in Australia are actually smaller and lighter.

It does note that daily Netflix updates can be up to 8tb (albeit in the US and back when the library was more extensive - so I suspect ours would be maybe 2.5tb max) so I'm not sure how QF would handle that on every aircraft. It'd be too much of a hassle to switch racked units in and out every day. Maybe we'll see CAT6 ethernet cables connected at overnight stops? ;-)

Could lead to some interesting announcements : 'Qantas would like to apologise for the short delay. We're currently awaiting the final three episodes of Downton Abbey Season 6 to finish transferring, but after that we'll be on our way.'

Mentions base box is 100tb and goes on to say cost $10k to $20k, is that right?

 

[greyyy]

Netflix-in-a-box would be prohibitively expensive (and heavy!) to install in 80 planes. Not to mention the logistics of updating it frequently. While refuelling they run the ethernet out to the plane to top up the Netflix? I think you'll find all these services will just be streaming from the "cloud" (although it wont be any faster even though you're above the clouds rather than below ), maybe with a bit of QoS to help and give priority to along certain media partners.

And AusBT has tweeted a pic that does show a port for offline data

Offline data? Probably more like a diagnostics port.

 

[badseed]

Netflix-in-a-box would be prohibitively expensive (and heavy!) to install in 80 planes. Not to mention the logistics of updating it frequently. While refuelling they run the ethernet out to the plane to top up the Netflix? I think you'll find all these services will just be streaming from the "cloud" (although it wont be any faster even though you're above the clouds rather than below ), maybe with a bit of QoS to help and give priority to along certain media partners.

It'd certainly come at a cost, both upfront, and weight-wise, but the data transfers themselves also come at a cost. A 1U or 2U rack unit really isn't that heavy, and is certainly far less than either the 'traditional' seatback IFE systems as well as the 'put an iPad in every seatback' model.

This is all speculation of course, but it is technically feasible. However I agree that its much more likely that QF will just rely on the 'cloud'. I know that the US ViaSat (same provider QF have engaged but supplied by the NBN satellites) specs mention up to 20 megabit per device, so if QF shape each device down to a solid and reliable 12mb then that's absolutely fine for a HD stream or two each.