Gogo buys rival to tackle Starlink aviation expansion – SpaceNews

If you have flown on any US carrier and looked for Wi-Fi connectivity, chances are you have heard of Gogo In-Flight. This service provides wireless internet connection to passengers on various airlines throughout the United States and the world. This article discusses the plans for Gogo to purchase Satcom direct as a way to gain an advantage over SpaceX’s Starlink in the aviation wireless connection competition. Gogo and Satcom Direct have historically contracted GEO satellite operators such as Intelsat and Viasat. I see this merger as a potential emerging cyber threat. Satcom Direct is being purchased essentially to gain a competitive advantage over SpaceX. When an acquisition such as this occurs, it is safe to say that finances are at the forefront of the conversation – while gaps in cybersecurity are overlooked. The gap I foresee being an issue is the compatibility of the two different companies systems. It will most certainly take a while for the two companies to successfully integrate their systems to ensure everything is fully operational. During this time period of integration and troubleshooting, gaps in security are very well possible and can leave these companies vulnerable to significant security breaches.