Business Breakdowns
Episode 62 Gogo: Internet for Private Jets
Business Breakdowns

Episode 62: Gogo: Internet for Private Jets

Business Breakdowns

Episode 62

Gogo: Internet for Private Jets

Oak Thorne is the President and CEO of Gogo. We cover the size of the market for in-flight connectivity, the technology powering Gogo's offering, and how Starlink differs.

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[00:04:02] - [First question] - Gogo’s history and how his history intersects with it

[00:08:03] - His background and what lead him to joining Gogo 

[00:10:01] - A primary focus on US airlines and high-end air travel specifically

[00:11:37] - 30% market penetration of potential WiFi signal outfitted aircraft

[00:12:33] - What the competitive landscape looks like today and how many planes they have

[00:14:15] - Whether the formerly unaddressable planes will make their way into their fleet 

[00:16:04] - Their product offerings today and the differences between them 

[00:19:26] - Overview of their business economics and their digital infrastructure 

[00:21:31] - Unit economics and labor and install costs

[00:23:44] - How much more traffic their existing network could handle  

[00:24:17] - CapEx, service revenue, and a projected 20% system growth 

[00:25:55] - Cost structure margin on their recurring service revenue 

[00:26:36] - Where they are in building out their 5G network

[00:27:25] - Momentum of business growth year-over-year

[00:28:29] - How the ATG network actually works and how the 5G connection improves it 

[00:30:44] - What portion of their business comes from aftermarket installations

[00:32:18] - Competitive nature of this sector and if someone could come after Gogo

[00:35:23] - Speed differentials between their varying network offerings  

[00:36:48] - Price differences with competitors and the strength of their dealer network 

[00:38:19] - Expensive alternatives and the customer experience of GeoSatellite services 

[00:40:42] - Describing the differences between GeoSatellite and Elon’s Starlink

[00:46:19] - Reasons why Starlink might become a competitor

[00:48:56] - How Gogo’s 5G and global broadband product are offensive and defensive 

[00:51:24] - Portion of new US delivery aviation planes built with in-flight WiFi solutions

[00:53:39] - Plans to become a free cash flow generating machine 

[00:55:01] - How long he anticipates this growth runway to continue 

[00:56:27] - Potential risks to Gogo from a legal and regulatory perspective 

[00:57:33] - Legal allegations from SmartSky and using the unlicensed spectrum

[00:59:50] - Cyclicality of their clients and suspended business periods  

[01:02:18] - Their channels and customer concentration 

[01:03:17] - Minority shareholders and their long term vision 

[01:04:57] - Two key lessons for others attempting to build and lead a company 

Gogo: Internet for Private Jets

Introduction

Compound248
I am Compound248, and this is our next installment in our Business Breakdown miniseries focused on digital infrastructure where we are breaking down a handful of companies that are key players in the digital infrastructure asset class.

Gogo's History and Place in Digital Infrastructure Today

Compound248
Our hope with this miniseries is to give you an understanding of how the businesses that underpin our modern lives with an almost magical ubiquitous connected existence work. How is it, for example, that Netflix based in Seattle is able to deliver a perfect streaming video to your phone in the back seat of a New York City taxi cab? Or as the case may be, to your seat 20,000 ft in the sky? Digital infrastructure powers that experience. And in this episode, we will talk about a company that delivers that airborne experience, Gogo. Known for its eponymous in-flight WiFi service, Gogo is frequently misunderstood, having undergone a transformation to focus purely on the business or private aviation industry. It sells equipment that gets installed on a private aviation airplane. And then, in infrastructure-like fashion, monetizes that equipment with high margin service revenue for decades. We're fortunate to be joined by Oak Thorne who has led Gogo for 20 years into the success it is today.

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