Ofcom has
confirmed plansto allow passengers to use
mobile phones on UK-registered aircraft.
The plans, agreed jointly with other EU countries, will enable
mobile phone use in European airspace. They follow an Ofcom
consultation published in October 2007.
Airlines will be able to install mobile phone base stations on
aircraft when they have secured approval by the
European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
in the UK.
The system will connect passengers' own mobile phone handsets to
an on-board GSM base station. The phone and base station must be
switched off during take-off and landing to ensure they do not
interfere with mobile networks on the ground.
The handsets will 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. Billing will operate 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 licences.
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