Mobiles on planes get green light
27 March 2008Ofcom, the UK's telecommunications regulator, has unveiled plans to enable mobile phone use on aircraft.
The proposals could see base stations being installed on planes, which passengers could connect their phone to in order to communicate with people on the ground.
There are certain regulatory issues to be considered - airline crew would have to take part in courses to ensure that they are capable of operating the equipment and travellers would not be allowed to use their phone until the aircraft reaches an altitude of 3,000 metres.
Plans are subject to approval from industry authorities - the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Ofcom's announcement has met with a mixed reaction, with David Tansley, telecoms partner with business advisory firm Deloitte, suggesting that travellers may not even want to use their phone while flying.
"Social norms, as well as excessive background noise, may dissuade most people from making phone calls in crowded planes," he said.
"The likely charges and distribution of revenues across the various involved parties are unclear - it's not certain who the winners will be. The losers will be passengers who find themselves seated next to a cost-no-object mobile user."
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