In flight mobile calls set for take off
26.03.08
Passengers on UK-registered aircraft could be able to use their mobile phones to make calls and send text messages within months, the telecommunications regulator Ofcom said today. The regulator said the decision had been made in conjunction with other European Union countries and the system could be used in European airspace.
Ofcom, which had been examining the proposals since last year, said the plans would be subject to approval by the relevant UK and European aviation bodies. Today's ruling will see the wavelengths allocated to aircraft needed to make calls, but other obstacles still have to be overcome.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will have to give approval to the equipment itself, and must be satisfied it will not interfere with other sensitive equipment on the aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority will also have to set the rules governing phone use in the air by passengers.
Under the plans, airlines wishing to provide the service would allow passengers to use their own handsets once the aircraft reaches a minimum height of 3000 metres. Calls or texting would not be allowed during take-off and landing for safety reasons.
The system would work by connecting the mobile phone to an onboard base station to make and receive calls, which would be routed via satellite to another network on the ground. Passengers would then be billed through a their normal service provider at a premium rate, with the airline taking a slice of the income.
A number of airlines including Ryanair and bmi have said that they are eager to offer their passengers a mobile service. However, they could be beaten to a UK launch by Air France and Emirates, who have already received approval for their equipment and both have already allowed passengers to use mobiles on a number of flights.
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