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Canadian air travellers may soon be able to access wireless Internet after federal regulators signed off on a plan by Illinois-based Gogo Inc. to begin offering the service north of the 49th parallel.

Until now, a series of regulatory and infrastructure issues have prevented airlines from offering Internet service in Canada.

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Passengers travelling in Canada can soon experience the same technology that has a proven track record of performance and reliability in the U.S.

Gogo, a leading in-flight wireless provider in the U.S., said Tuesday it intends to build infrastructure in Canada to provide air-to-ground connectivity through its partnership with Ottawa’s SkySurf Canada Communications Inc. by the end of 2013.

Whether Canadian carriers will jump aboard its technology remains to be seen.

Gogo has had a limited partnership with Air Canada since 2009 to provide Internet service on two aircraft flying between Canada and California.

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Gogo’s plan is to concentrate initially on existing Canadian routes operated by its U.S. and Canadian partners, including Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and others. Those with knowledge of the situation say Gogo hopes to add Canadian partners, and possibly expand its deal with Air Canada.