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26/03/2008
Ofcom Approves Aircraft Mobile Phone Use Plans
Plans to enable the use of mobile phones on UK registered aircraft in European airspace have been approved by UK regulator Ofcom.
The decision follows an Ofcom consultation on the proposals, which was published in October 2007. It will be subject to approval by the relevant UK and European aviation authorities - the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK.
Mobile systems on aircraft will only be installed once they have secured approval by EASA and CAA in the UK. After that, it will be up to individual airlines to judge whether there is consumer demand for the services.
The system works by passengers' own mobile phone handsets connecting to an on-board base station.
Both of these must be switched off during take-off and landing to ensure they do not interfere with mobile networks on the ground.
Once the aircraft reaches a minimum height of 3,000 metres, the cabin crew may switch on the system.
Mobile handsets will then be able to use the aircraft's network service to make and receive calls, which will be routed via a satellite link to the network on the ground. Calls will be billed through passengers' normal service providers.
Mobile phones will connect to the system for 2G (GSM) data, voice and text services. If the service is successful, it could be extended to 3G and other services in future.
Ofcom proposes to allow the use of these systems by amending the aircraft operators' existing Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 licenses.
For a number of years, some airlines have offered customers in-flight outbound telephone services via the airline's own network.
(KMcA)
The decision follows an Ofcom consultation on the proposals, which was published in October 2007. It will be subject to approval by the relevant UK and European aviation authorities - the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK.
Mobile systems on aircraft will only be installed once they have secured approval by EASA and CAA in the UK. After that, it will be up to individual airlines to judge whether there is consumer demand for the services.
The system works by passengers' own mobile phone handsets connecting to an on-board base station.
Both of these must be switched off during take-off and landing to ensure they do not interfere with mobile networks on the ground.
Once the aircraft reaches a minimum height of 3,000 metres, the cabin crew may switch on the system.
Mobile handsets will then be able to use the aircraft's network service to make and receive calls, which will be routed via a satellite link to the network on the ground. Calls will be billed through passengers' normal service providers.
Mobile phones will connect to the system for 2G (GSM) data, voice and text services. If the service is successful, it could be extended to 3G and other services in future.
Ofcom proposes to allow the use of these systems by amending the aircraft operators' existing Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 licenses.
For a number of years, some airlines have offered customers in-flight outbound telephone services via the airline's own network.
(KMcA)
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