In-flight mobile calls on the way

Airline passengers will be able to make calls on their mobiles during flights under new proposals from the communications watchdog.

Ofcom is to recommend that airlines should be allowed to decide whether their passengers are able to use their phones in flight when the plane reaches a height of 3,000 metres.

Under the proposals, holidaymakers would use an onboard base station, which would in turn be linked to another network on the ground via a satellite.

A statement from Ofcom said: "2G (GSM) phones will be able to use the system for data, voice and text services. If the service is successful it could be extended to 3G and other standards in the future.

"For a number of years some airlines have offered customers in-flight outbound telephone services via the airline's own network. Today's proposals will allow airlines to enable passengers to use their own mobile handsets."

Pending approval from the EU, the proposals could become law from early 2008.

Digg    Reddit    Facebook    Tweet This