By Tom Espiner, 30 August 2006 15:40
NEWS
Ryanair plans to allow passengers mobile access to voice and text communications on all of its flights from the middle of 2007.
The budget airline announced on Wednesday that it will partner with OnAir, an Airbus and Sita joint in-flight communications venture, which plans to fit the entire Ryanair fleet with technology called Mobile OnAir. Initially fifty aircraft will be equipped by mid-2007, with further installations following.
"There's clearly a trial element, but we don't have any concerns that people won't use it," said Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, at a press briefing in London. "If it doesn't work, clearly it'll come off the aircraft," O'Leary added.
Passengers will be charged to make and receive voice calls and SMS messages via satellite broadband links, and to use push email such as BlackBerry. The connection between the plane and ground is carried by satellite operator Inmarsat.
When asked about the cost of the service, Ryanair said that it would "mirror" international roaming charges, even on national flights. These roaming rates can vary wildly between operators and countries. Ryanair will charge operators a commission on call revenues.
"We're getting a commission from operators, but it's a relatively small commission rate," O'Leary said.
The companies also need regulatory approval before they can launch the service.
"The regulatory aspect represents some risk to the schedule, but it's not a question of if but when [the plan is approved]," said O'Leary. "It's a big blockage that no-one is allowed to use mobiles on aircraft. Once we have regulatory approval internet access will follow."
Planes will be fitted with a pico cell a GSM antenna in the ceiling of the aircraft which allows phones to connect to the satellite link. Because the antenna is close to the mobiles, they only require low power to connect, according to George Cooper, chief executive of OnAir.
"The power output is so low that is doesn't interfere with the avionics," said Cooper.
The ground network will be provided by Monaco Telecom, OnAir's telecoms partner. Customers will only be able to use their phones above 10,000 feet, which will prevent them from connecting to domestic mobile networks instead.
Air France will be the first airline to trial OnAir's satellite-based technology early next year, followed by the UK's BMI and Portugal's TAP.
Earlier this month Boeing said it would close its loss-making, high-speed broadband communications service, Connexion, taking charges of up to $320m in the second half of 2006.
Comments
There are 4 comments. Join the discussion
1. Rob
So security paranoia about active mobiles on a plane used to trigger bombs isn't a problem anymore?
Still not flying ryanair for fear of manualitis insertus your phonus up arsus syndrome on passengers talking too loudly next to me.
2. anonymous
At the moment flights are one of the few places where you are not forced to listen to other peoples inane telephone conversations. If Ryanair continues with this I shall choose to use an operator that does not allow phone calls.
Most of the budget airlines have relatively short flights - can't these people wait?
3. Andrew Lewis
The thought of maybe 200 people discussing the merits of the inflight food with phones ringing left right and centre is enough to make your blood run cold.
I live 3 miles from London Stansted and use Ryanair very regularly for business. They offer a great point to point cheap service but I am afraid I would consider using another airline from even Heathrow to avoid this nuisance.
I believe it will increase air rage incidents quite significantly.
On a shorthaul flight of upto 2 hours why should anyone really need their phone? Even business users can do without for such a short period of time.
Just remember how annoying it is having to sit near someone in a restaurant using a phone.
4. Dr Chris Parsons
Oh god oh god oh god...if there were one thing I could uninvent, it would be the mobile phone!