
Ofcom OKs mobile-high club...
Published: 18 October 2007 12:17 GMT
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.
Wireless from A to Z
Click on the links below to find out more…
A is for Antivirus
B is for Bluetooth
C is for The Cloud
D is for dotMobi
E is for Email
F is for FMC
G is for GPS
H is for HSDPA
I is for i-mode
J is for Japan Air
K is for Korea
L is for LBS
M is for M2M
N is for NFC
O is for Operating systems
P is for Pubs
Q is for QoS
R is for Roaming
S is for Satellite
T is for TV
U is for UMTS
V is for Virgin
W is for WiMax
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.
Why oh why are they bothering with this. I have ne...
Anonymous
Hello Darling, I've taken off now.
Hello Darlin...
John Ray
HELLO
HELLO
YES I'M ON THE PLANE
I'LL SPE...
Simon
It will be worse if your trying to sleep and those...
Anonymous
There may be little value in phones working for co...
Anonymous
You must be flexible with hours, as you will need to be able to work alongside the busiest passenger times at the relevant airport. Job Purpose To ...
Site Supervisor (Satellite Earth Station Installations), based Stevenage salary TBA with the successful applicant Qualifications and/or Skills needed ...
The Technician will be responsible for the quality of work on the ground station of Goonhilly and Land? Daily Earth Station operations Earth Station ...
Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.
Managing a growing threat: An Executive's Guide to Web Application Security
5 Sources of Value Through a Telecom Expense Management Initiative
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery with CA Recovery Management and VMware...
Adopting Server Virtualization for Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Stories from the web...
Copyright © 2008 CBS Interactive Limited. All rights reserved. Top of page
Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: How the telcos could save themselves Doomed network operators could thrive with a bit of innovation
Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: Facebook saves teen from prison Another unexpected impact of social networking