Air travelers in Fuzhou, capital city of China's Fujian province, are expected to enjoy in-flight Wi-Fi services within the year, local news reported on March 18.

Two airline companies in the city are now accelerating the construction of in-flight facilities. The Boeing 787 and Boeing 777-300ER are said to be the two types of airplanes to be equipped with the devices.

The technology is not new. Air China has sought permission to test in-flight connectivity several years ago and has recently given a live broadcast of the annual two sessions during the flight.

News has it that Xiamen Airlines is going to cooperate with China Telecom Satellite Communications Co on the construction of air-to-ground Wi-Fi service. According to their plan, the first batch of flights to offer in-flight connectivity service will be Boeing 787s departing from Fuzhou Airport and Xiamen Airport.

The in-flight Wi-Fi will be free during the test period, and the charge will be decided by the market once it becomes popularized.

It is also said that with the development of in-flight Wi-Fi service, passengers may be allowed to use their mobile devices on board in the future through third-party software.

By China Daily Fujian Bureau