Mobiles On Planes Get Green Light From Ofcom March 27, 2008

Read more Gizmodo UK , Mobile Devices , Mobile phones , Smartphones , Technology , Wireless

Using mobile phones on planes could become a reality for many travellers following a decision by the telecoms regulator, Ofcom, to allow for mobile communications on UK registered aircraft.

air passenger.jpg The decision is great for travellers but flies in the face of current restrictions that seem to imply that using electronic devices on planes could interfere with the plane’s own electronics. Ofcom previously announced that it was planning to do this.

Continued...

The system works by passengers’ mobiles connecting to an on-board base station, just not during take-off and landing when the station and phones will be off. Once at 3,000-feet though the system will be switched on and flyers will be able to make and take calls routed through a satellite link to a network on the ground.

To start, the system will support 2G services only for data, voice and texts. It may, if successful, be extended to 3G.

To start, the services will work in European airspace but don’t get too excited yet since it still has to be approved by the relevant UK and European aviation authorities - the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK.

Just how much you will be charged for making calls from 30,000-feet is still unclear.-Martin Lynch

[Ofcom]

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Comments

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, no, no, no, no, no, noooooooooooooooo.

It's bad enough having to sit next to the farting obnoxious fat bloke without having to listen to him drone on loudly about how bloody important he is 2 cm away from your ear.

Anyway it's pretty noisy up there... would anyone be able to hear what you're saying anyway?

Posted by Jon | March 27, 2008 11:10 AM

It's amazing how things change when they can make money out of you eh?

One minute they're telling me that using my PDA/PSP/MP3 player is likely to bring down the plane.

Next minute they're telling you you can use a device that actively outputs electromagnetic waves...

Posted by Marcos Scriven | March 27, 2008 11:25 PM

Ask any military expert about mobile phones being used to detonate bombs and then ask them about phones on planes - bad idea in any language.

Posted by John Fayne-Cleaver | March 30, 2008 04:15 AM

In relation to the above argument...

You can also use fingers to detonate bombs as well as fire guns, plus im sure any military expert will also back that up.

As of yet fingers have not been banned during take off or landing.

Posted by Patty | April 15, 2008 05:13 PM

Yes, but fingers are also required to use phones.

Posted by Owens | May 13, 2008 12:50 AM

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