Alaska Airlines plans to test a high-speed satellite wireless Internet service on some of its aircraft next year, making it the first U.S. carrier to offer such broadband service.

The broadband service provider relies on geosynchronous satellites to provide broadband to planes anywhere in the world. Customers will use Wi-Fi hotspots located in the aircraft cabin to access the service.

In the past, aircraft broadband services have struggled. Boeing pulled its Connexion option last year after failing to sign enough airlines onto the service. Though support from international airlines was strong, U.S. carriers hesitated to adopt the service following the terrorist attacks of 2001 and the subsequent industry downturn.

Meanwhile, American Airlines has announced plans to test a broadband service in 2008 that will rely on air-to-ground technology, rather than satellites. The test will focus on American’s Boeing 767 planes, primarily on transcontinental routes. Provider Air-Cell says that it will construct cellular towers throughout the United States to beam the signals to aircraft. American will offer its broadband service as an extra-cost option, but the airline won’t announce the exact fee until the service rolls out.