EU gives wings to in-flight mobile calls
08 April 2008
EU gives wings to in-flight mobile calls
The European Commission on Monday introduced rules designed to harmonise conditions for the take off of mobile communication services on aircraft.
The measures bring into line the technical and licensing requirements for the use of mobile phones on board aircrafts, allowing businesspeople and consumers to receive and make calls and messages with their own mobile phones while flying all over Europe.
A number of trials are already in place and a number of telecom operators and airlines are planning to launch the service this year.
The system works by connecting passengers' phones to an onboard base station connected to the ground via satellite, whilst at the same time ensuring that transmission powers are kept low enough for mobile phones to be used without affecting the safety of aircraft equipment or the normal operation of terrestrial mobile networks.
"Pan-European telecom services, such as in-flight mobile telephony, need a regulatory 'one-stop shop' to operate throughout Europe and this is why the Commission has acted today. One regulatory decision for all European airspace was required for this new service to come into being," said Viviane Reding, the EU's Telecoms Commissioner. "Now we expect operators to be transparent and innovative in their price offerings. In-flight mobile phone services can be a very interesting new service especially for those business travellers who need to be ready to communicate wherever they are, wherever they go. However, if consumers receive shock phone bills, the service will not take-off. I also call on airlines and operators to create the right conditions on board aircraft to ensure that those who want to use in-flight communication services do not disturb other passengers."
Reding said that these latest moves will enable the national licences granted to individual airlines by the Member State in which they are registered to be recognised throughout the EU. For example, an aircraft registered in France or Spain will be able to offer mobile communication services on aircrafts to passengers when flying over Germany or Hungary without any additional licensing procedures.
To comment on any articles, please contact us at chatback@telecoms.com or have your say on our blog.
Bookmark this page
