JetBlue Wins Wireless License

U.S. airline JetBlue won a government auction for wireless licenses, which grants the company a 1-megahertz frequency band that could be used for in-flight wireless Internet, telephone and entertainment services. The bid of $7.02 million was placed by JetBlue subsidiary LiveTV.

The spectrum was previously owned by Verizon's Airfone business, which now has two years to limit operations and cease operating altogether by 2009. Due to auction restrictions JetBlue has not said what it plans to do with the license, although it could provide wireless service to other airlines much like Boeing does with Connexion. Connexion's service, however, utilizes satellites rather than the air-to-ground communication that is granted by JetBlue's license.