Ofcom ponders in-flight mobile use

Ofcom this week unveiled proposals that could see passengers making calls and sending texts mid-flight as early as next year, without compromising safety.

The communications watchdog is suggesting that UK-registered airlines, who believe there is demand for the service, install an on-board base station which passengers can then connect to using their own handsets.

The need for mobiles to be switched off during take off and landing will remain to avoid interference from other terrestrial mobile networks. This stipulation will also apply to the base station system, according to Ofcom.

Once planes have reached a minimum height of 3,000 metres, they can then switch on the base station to activate the mobile service, which will route calls via a satellite network link. Users will still be billed by their mobile operators in the usual way although it remains unclear how much such 'roaming' activity will cost.

Ofcom acknowledges that a number of issues must be ironed out before the mobile proposals - which have been co-created with other EU countries and will cover all European airspace - get the green light, specifically concerns about safety.

Furthermore, the plans must satisfy both the requirements of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) before proceeding.

"Aircraft safety is of primary importance, and no services could be contemplated unless safety was assured," it said in a statement. "Ofcom is aware of concern from some consumers about passenger welfare and safety around the introduction of MCA [Mobile Communications on Aircraft] in the UK. However, it is a matter for the CAA and other regulatory bodies to consider these issues separately. No services can be introduced until the requirements of those bodies have been satisfied. Ofcom's proposals set out in this consultation aim to create the legal and technical conditions in which the services could be launched, but this will only happen if they are approved by the relevant authorities in charge of safety and welfare issues and if airlines take the commercial decision, in the light of passenger demand, to do so.

The regulator is consulting on the proposals, which initially cover GSM phones but could be extended to 3G and other standards in the future, until the end of next month.

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