NEWS
UK airlines could let passengers use their mobile phones to make calls and send text messages by 2008, under proposals from Ofcom.
The watchdog has set out guidelines to allow airlines to offer mobile services on UK-registered aircraft, if they wish to do so.
The proposed system includes an on-board base station which connects to a passenger's mobile handset.
Under the guidelines, both the base station and passenger phones must be switched off during take-off and landing to eliminate interference with other terrestrial mobile networks.
Once the aircraft reaches a height of 3,000 metres the mobile phone system can be switched on by the cabin crew.
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A is for Antivirus
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X is for XDA
Y is for Yucca
Z is for Zigbee
Mobile users can then 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 with calls billed through the passengers' normal service providers.
2G phones will be able to use the system for data, voice and text services and if the service is successful it could be extended to 3G and other standards in the future.
The earliest the mobile services could be available from UK-registered airlines is 2008, subject to approval by the aviation authorities.
The Ofcom proposals have been developed jointly with other EU countries and are intended to cover all European airspace but it is up to the individual airlines to decide whether they want to introduce such mobile services with the installation of mobile systems on planes only allowed once it has been approved by the relevant UK and European aviation authorities.
The European air-safety body gave the green light for airborne GSM equipment to be fitted by airlines to give passengers in-flight mobile phone use this year.
The launch of in-flight mobile services by several airlines had been delayed by the awarding of the safety certificate by the European Aviation Safety Authority taking longer than expected.
Comments
There are 9 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
Why oh why are they bothering with this. I have never spoken to a single air passenger who wants this. Almost without exception, all are vehemently opposed to it.
2. John Ray
Hello Darling, I've taken off now.
Hello Darling, we've just flown through a cloud.
Hello Darling, I'll be landing in a few minutes so see you soon.
3. Simon
HELLO
HELLO
YES I'M ON THE PLANE
I'LL SPEAK UP THEN
Just what we need !
4. anonymous
It will be worse if your trying to sleep and those annoying ring tones keep going off.
5. anonymous
There may be little value in phones working for conversation - especially given that you will be 32000 feet above the grouns so imagine how loud you will have to shout into your phone for those o0n earth to hear you - but there is great value in people being able to use SMS and email-enabled devices. Business - unfortunately - does not stop just because you need to fly to another country.
6. Alastair Warren
Weren't those railway bombs in Spain activated by mobiles phones then?
So just get a mobile phone into the cabin or hold to trigger the explosion?
Saves faffing about trying to set fire to your shoes doesn' it.
The benefit of calling from planes is?
Silly me, it's money isn't it!
7. Andrew Lewis
Got to agree with Mr Warren. There is a security implication here apart from the nuisance factor of all the ringing phones and being forced to listen to evryone's conversations because of the close proximity.
The underlying issue will be phone revenues potetially compromising safety and certainly making flying a more stressful experience.
You don't take your phone to the lavatory so why can't people do without a phone while flying. Text and email would hoevr be useful to business travellers.
8. anonymous
You have got to be joking. Trapped in a metal tube with people who can't survive without a phoneand speak loudly so that we can all hear how important they are. (please remind them that giving out personal mortgate/banking details this way is stupid)
It'd bad enough on the train without subjecting us to this!
Imaging being stuck with them for hours and hours without the relief of being able to chuck the thing out of the window.
9. anonymous
Please wage a noisy campaign against this! If you are ever sitting next to somone using a mobile on a plane, join in noisily with their converstation! Or mimick the 'Hello - I'm on the plane' banal banter or simply start singing or talking loudly to yourself.