EC Proposes Rules for In-Flight Use of Mobile Phones

The European Commission has introduced technical and licensing regulations to let airline passengers use their mobile handsets and smartphones during flights. "Pan-European telecom services, such as in-flight mobile telephony, needed a regulatory 'one-stop shop' to operate throughout Europe, and this is why the commission has acted," said European Union Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding.

Satellite Links

The approved in-flight technology prevents mobile handsets from connecting directly to networks on the ground. Instead, passengers must link to an onboard cellular network that uses an Inmarsat satellite to relay signals back to Earth.

According to OnAir -- a joint venture of aircraft-maker Airbus and the aeronautical telecom organization SITA -- rerouting cellular signals via satellite ensures that transmission power levels will remain low and prevent mobile phones from interfering with onboard navigation and communications systems.

Recent participants in OnAir's ongoing trials in cooperation with Air France have been able to use standard GSM mobile phones and other compatible devices to access the full range of mobile communications services just as they do on the ground.

"During the first three months of the trial, passenger feedback has been positive regarding the features, quality of transmission and user-friendliness of the service," said Air France Vice President Patrick Roux.

Each OnAir trial run, which does not become active until the aircraft reaches an altitude of three kilometers (1.86 miles), allows up to six simultaneous calls as well as unlimited SMS and e-mail, Air France said.

Charges Unknown

Still, the commercial success of new in-flight mobile services will depend on a number of other factors that are still up in the air. For example, passengers using the new service can expect to be billed extra charges under their existing GSM international roaming agreements.

"We expect operators to be transparent and innovative in their price offerings," explained Reding, who thinks the services will ultimately...