Approval for mobiles on aircraft by Ofcom in Europe

The use of mobiles on planes flying in European airspace has been given approval by UK regulator Ofcom.It has issued plans that will allow airlines to offer mobile services on UK-registered aircraft.The decision means that mobiles could be used once a plane has reached an altitude of 3,000m or more.But airlines keen to offer the services must still satisfy other regulators about how the hardware will be used.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7314362.stmComing soon: mobile phones on the plane
Passengers shouting: “Hello! I’m on the plane!” could soon join cramped legroom and bad food on the list of in-flight annoyances as airlines moved closer yesterday to allowing the use of mobile phones on board.The communications regulator, Ofcom, gave the all-clear for British aircraft to install systems that will allow passengers to make calls and send texts, destroying one of the last refuges from the mobile phone.The ruling means that British airlines can apply for the wavelengths needed to make calls in the air. On-board base stations, or picocells, which would be switched on at a height of 10,000ft (3,000m), will allow licensed aircraft to link up with mobile operators via satellite. Passengers would pay a roaming rate and would be billed by their phone companies as normal.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article3628840.eceAirborne cellphone use is closer on U.K.- registered planes
Passengers on British-registered aircraft could soon be able to use their cellphones to make calls and send text messages, the U.K. telecommunications regulator said Wednesday.
http://iht.com/articles/2008/03/26/technology/mobile.phpEnabling mobile phone use on aircraft [news release]
Ofcom today confirmed plans to enable airlines to offer mobile communication services on UK-registered aircraft, if they wish to do so. This 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.The decision has been developed jointly with other EU countries and will enable use in European airspace. It follows an Ofcom consultation on the proposals published in October 2007.The safety of passengers is paramount and mobile systems on aircraft will only be installed when they have secured approval by EASA and the CAA in the UK. If such approval has been secured it will be a matter for individual airlines to judge whether there is consumer demand for these services.
Using mobiles on aircraftThe 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 system may be switched on by the cabin crew. 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 licences.For a number of years some airlines have offered customers in-flight outbound telephone services via the airline’s own network.The full statement can be found at:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/mca/statement/Responses to the consultation can be found at:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/mca/responses/This news release is also available from Ofcom at ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2008/03/nr_20080326.