AirAsia has signed a deal that will increase the speed of its in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment services.

The group has penned a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) with Inmarsat for  the installation of its latest GX Aviation in-flight connectivity solution. This will equip AirAsia’s passenger jets with broadband internet, as well as enabling in-flight entertainment services such as movies and music.

The agreement covers AirAsia’s fleet of single-aisle Airbus A320s and AirAsia X’s twin-aisle A330s. Installation is expected to commence this year, with the service scheduled to go live in 2018.

“Travellers today expect fast, reliable broadband wherever they are, whether it’s on the ground or 30,000 feet in the air. GX Aviation’s market-leading capabilities represent a step-change in in-flight connectivity that allows us to close the gap between the on-ground and onboard experience,” said AirAsia’s group CEO, Tony Fernandes.

Using AirAsia’s ROKKI platform, passengers will be able to surf the internet, access movies, music and games, and shop for in-flight meals, merchandise and duty-free.