In-flight mobile calls could take off next year

Telecoms regulator Ofcom has set out proposals that could allow passengers to use mobile phones in planes as early as next year.

The plans have been developed together with other European countries and are likely to apply to all European airspace.

Aircraft will have their own base stations on board which connects to passengers' mobile phones once the plane reaches 3,000 metres. Both incoming and outgoing calls will then be routed through a satellite link to the network on the ground.

Customers will be billed through their normal service providers, although there is no word yet on how much calls may cost.

The system will initially support 2G (GSM) phones, with the possible extension to 3G and other standards in the future.

During take-off and landing, passengers will still have to turn their phones off.

Ofcom notes that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency are working to make sure that passenger safety issues are sorted out before the system is rolled out.

Some people are understandably not pleased at the prospect of having to listen to their neighbours nattering on their phones, and Ofcom has recognised this.

However, it says that the issue is the responsibility of the CAA.

© Adfero Ltd

Comments

[Jeffers]

This is a move that may cause friction among passengers. Many people seem to speak in raised voices when talking on a mobile phone and on a plane this could lead to problems. Personally, I would not fly long haul with an airline which permitted mobile phone use.