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Mobiles On Planes Get Green Light From Ofcom

Using mobile phones on planes could become a reality for many travellers following a decision by the telecoms regulator, Ofcom, to allow for mobile communications on UK registered aircraft.

air passenger.jpg The decision is great for travellers but flies in the face of current restrictions that seem to imply that using electronic devices on planes could interfere with the plane’s own electronics. Ofcom previously announced that it was planning to do this.

The system works by passengers’ mobiles connecting to an on-board base station, just not during take-off and landing when the station and phones will be off. Once at 3,000-feet though the system will be switched on and flyers will be able to make and take calls routed through a satellite link to a network on the ground.

To start, the system will support 2G services only for data, voice and texts. It may, if successful, be extended to 3G.

To start, the services will work in European airspace but don’t get too excited yet since it still has to be approved by the relevant UK and European aviation authorities – the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK.

Just how much you will be charged for making calls from 30,000-feet is still unclear.-Martin Lynch

[Ofcom]

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