Courtney
Link is not expensive
You're having a laugh mate. The terminals might be 'reasonably priced' in aviation terms, but the extras come in the form of:
1. Trials and embodiment into a military aircraft. Even if a standalone machine that doesn't speak to the aircraft's systems then this can double the procurement costs for a small fleet like Voyager.
2. Setting up training for all those that work with it (aircrew and engineers).
3. Getting mission support for the datalink - network design and crypto.
4. Constant trials of new network designs and software improvements.
It isn't a turn-key solution of lets buy one and slap it in!
LJ
PS. I agree everyone should be on the net. But I also agree that all personnel should have an inflation busting pay rise; and that isn't going to happen either!!!