[SatNews] JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU) and ViaSat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT) plan to create the industry’s best inflight broadband for commercial aviation using ViaSat’s innovative high-capacity satellite technology.

ViaSat and JetBlue have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the provision of in-flight broadband access and other services for customers on JetBlue’s fleet of more than 160 aircraft using ViaSat advanced Ka-band satellites. Under the arrangement, ViaSat will provide Ka-band antenna components and SurfBeam®2 modems for installation on the airline’s EMBRAER E190 and Airbus A320 aircraft types along with two-way transmission bandwidth services using the WildBlue-1 and high-capacity ViaSat-1 satellites. JetBlue subsidiary, LiveTV LLC, will manage the integration of the ViaSat broadband and related components onboard the aircraft as well as providing the Wi-Fi enabled services into the overall cabin experience.

LiveTV will install and lead the certification process of the new system. As the product will be the first of its kind for commercial aviation, the system must be tested and certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration prior to installation fleet-wide. JetBlue and ViaSat expect the first installations to occur by mid-2012. Further, ViaSat and LiveTV intend to partner to bring the same advance Ka-band satellite broadband services to the airline industry, including to LiveTV’s existing customer base of airlines. JetBlue and ViaSat have completed the non-binding MOU with the intent of signing a definitive agreement before the end of this calendar year.