What Airborne Wireless Network does

Airborne Wireless Network (AWN) is a publicly traded development-stage company (OTC QB: ABWN) headquartered in Simi Valley, California, that is developing an airborne wholesale broadband carrier network branded as the Infinitus Airborne Broadband Digital Superhighway. The company's core concept is to use commercial aircraft equipped with broadband transceivers as airborne relay nodes operating at 20,000–40,000 feet altitude, arranged in a fully meshed network with redundant paths and dynamic routing around obstructions such as weather, providing what AWN describes as nearly 100% real-time connectivity.

The technical foundation rests on US Patent 6,285,878 B1, originally filed in 1998 and granted in 2001, which AWN acquired in 2016. The patent covers the methodology for using commercial aircraft as relay nodes in a meshed broadband network. To translate the patent into a deployable system, AWN has assembled a partner stack: Concept Development Inc. for airborne equipment manufacturing, In-Flight Canada for aircraft system design and installation, and Jet Midwest Group as an FAA test-aircraft partner supplying Boeing 757 airframes for proof-of-concept testing. The company has filed an FAA Certification Application for its Infinitus system, received a Project Number from the FAA for its Broadband Transceiver System, and retained an FAA Designated Engineering Representative and an external FAA consulting firm. Management combines aviation regulatory depth (former airline captaincy, FAA/TSA/NTSB/FCC compliance experience) with rare airborne telecom heritage (the team behind the original Airfone system).

AWN's stated business model is wholesale B2B: rather than selling directly to consumers, it intends to provide wholesale broadband connectivity to worldwide data and communications service providers. Pricing, contract mechanics, launch date, and revenue are not disclosed; the company is pre-revenue and has funded operations to date through a series of private placements totaling approximately $1.7M (three tranches of $250K + $250K + $1.2M) and a reported 2018 financing round, against a publicly traded share count of roughly 74 million shares. No productized commercial service or paying customer is documented in the available inputs.

Name

Airborne Wireless Network

Legal name

Airborne Wireless Network

Website

https://airbornewirelessnetwork.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Airborne Wireless Network is developing an airborne wholesale broadband carrier network, the Infinitus Digital Superhighway, that uses commercial aircraft as relay nodes in a fully meshed network. It targets worldwide data and communications service providers on a wholesale basis and remains pre-revenue, pursuing FAA certification.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wireless Telecommunications Infrastructure

NAICS

Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812)

akta.pro primary industry

Wireless ISPs (WISPs) & Fixed Wireless Access Providers (HDAIADAD)

Keywords

• Airborne broadband network
• Wholesale carrier services
• Meshed network communications
• In-flight connectivity
• Satellite alternative broadband

Headquarters

HQ city

Simi Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Carrier Services: AWN intends to provide wholesale broadband connectivity services to worldwide data and communications service providers. The company positions itself as a wholesale carrier network operator, selling bandwidth/services to other carriers rather than end consumers. No specific pricing or revenue mechanics disclosed as the network is still under development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Airborne Wireless Network is developing the world's first airborne wholesale carrier network that uses commercial aircraft as "mini-satellites" in a fully meshed broadband configuration operating between 20,000 and 40,000 feet altitude. The company sells wholesale broadband connectivity services to worldwide data and communications service providers, offering nearly 100% real-time connectivity with no single points of failure through its patented Infinitus Airborne Broadband Digital Superhighway system.

Product overview

Airborne Wireless Network is developing a single unified product: the Infinitus Airborne Broadband Digital Superhighway, which operates as a Wholesale Carrier Network. This system uses commercial aircraft equipped with broadband transceivers as 'mini-satellites' flying at 20,000-40,000 feet to create a fully meshed, redundant airborne network. The network is designed to provide worldwide broadband connectivity to data and communications service providers on a wholesale basis, offering greater throughput and nearly 100% real-time connectivity compared to traditional satellite or cell-tower technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Infinitus Airborne Broadband Digital Superhighway (Wholesale Carrier Network) A fully meshed airborne broadband network using commercial aircraft as airborne relay nodes ("mini-satellites") to provide wholesale broadband connectivity services to worldwide data and communications service providers. Operates at 20,000-40,000 feet (6,000-12,000 m) with redundant meshed paths, dynamic signal routing around obstructions and weather, and nearly 100% real-time (non-store-and-forward) connectivity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Operating altitude between 20,000 and 40,000 feet (6,000-12,000 m) in controlled airspace, avoiding space debris hazards
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Concept Development, Inc. (CDI)coreTechnology or IntegrationCalifornia-based company that designs and manufactures products for well-known aerospace companies. Specializes in In-Flight Entertainment Systems. Serves as AWN's Airborne Equipment Manufacturing Partner for the Infinitus system.
• In-Flight Canada (IFC)coreTechnology or IntegrationCanada-based company that designs and manufactures products for well-known aerospace companies. Serves as AWN's Aircraft System Design and Installation Partner for designing and installing the airborne broadband system on commercial aircraft.
• Jet Midwest Group (JMW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany that refurbishes, resells or re-leases aircraft to well-known airlines around the world. AWN signed MOU with Jet Midwest Group for Boeing 757 jetliners for Proof of Airborne Network Concept testing. Serves as FAA Test-Aircraft Partner.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gogo Inc. Provides in-flight connectivity to commercial and business aircraft using both ground-based and satellite networks. Directly comparable because, like AWN, it monetizes broadband connectivity carried by commercial aircraft, although Gogo sells primarily to airlines and passengers rather than on a wholesale basis to carriers.
• SmartSky Networks: Deploys an air-to-ground broadband network for in-flight connectivity on commercial aircraft. Directly comparable as a competitor pursuing aircraft-based broadband connectivity for the aviation market, although its architecture is ground-based rather than airborne.

Broad incumbents

• Viasat Inc. Major satellite broadband operator providing in-flight connectivity and wholesale carrier services. Comparable as an established wholesale broadband carrier competing for the same telecom-carrier customer base AWN targets, but using GEO satellite infrastructure instead of an airborne mesh.
• Inmarsat (now Viasat): Legacy satellite operator providing mobile and aeronautical broadband services globally. A relevant comparable because it sells wholesale connectivity to carriers and serves aeronautical customers, but uses geostationary satellite capacity rather than airborne relay nodes.
• Iridium Communications: Operates a LEO satellite constellation delivering voice and data services globally, including to aviation and maritime markets. Comparable as a wholesale-style wireless carrier targeting enterprise and government users, and a direct alternative technology pathway to AWN's airborne mesh.
• SES S.A. Global satellite operator providing wholesale capacity to telecom carriers, broadcasters, and enterprise customers. Relevant as a peer in the wholesale carrier services market AWN intends to address, but using GEO/MEO satellite infrastructure rather than airborne relays.
• Intelsat: One of the world's largest satellite operators, selling wholesale capacity to carriers and enterprises worldwide. Comparable as a wholesale connectivity provider competing for the same carrier customers AWN is targeting.
• Telesat: Satellite operator developing a LEO broadband constellation (Lightspeed) targeting wholesale and enterprise customers. Comparable as a wholesale broadband provider pursuing global carrier-grade connectivity, with overlapping customer set to AWN.

Emerging players

• OneWeb: LEO satellite constellation operator building a global broadband network, with significant focus on wholesale and government customers. A direct competing technology pathway to AWN's airborne mesh for global wholesale carrier services.
• Starlink (SpaceX): SpaceX's LEO satellite broadband service rapidly scaling global capacity with aggressive wholesale and enterprise offerings. The single most significant competitive threat to AWN's wholesale carrier thesis given its scale, capital base, and pace of deployment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/airborne-wireless-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Airborne Wireless Network