News: Ofcom calls for easier mobile phone usage on flights

Flights > News > # 1535 (19/10/2007)

Mobile users might be able to make calls using their own handsets on UK-registered aircraft from next year under new proposals published by telecoms and media regulator Ofcom.
Ofcom is calling for airlines to provide on-board base stations as part of its proposals, developed jointly with other European Union countries.
To ensure that mobile phones did not interfere with other terrestrial mobile networks, they would still have to be switched off during take-off and landing.
But Ofcom said once the aircraft had reached a minimum height of 3,000 metres, handsets could use the aircraft's network to make and receive calls, which would be routed via a satellite link to the network on the ground. Calls would be billed through passengers' normal service providers.
Ofcom, which is calling for industry comments by November 30, suggested amending the aircraft operators' existing Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 licences to enable a service that already operates in countries such as Australia.