The European Commission has announced rules that would allow air lines to offer passengers midair mobile phone calls across the European Union. The technology to be covered by the Commission’s rules links passengers’ phones to onboard cellular networks that are then connected to the ground via satellite, while ensuring that transmission levels for outgoing and incoming calls are low enough to avoid interference that might impair the safety of aircraft equipment. The move by Viviane Redding, the European commissioner responsible for telecommunications, would allocated space on the limited radio spectrum and would establish rules that ensure that licenses granted by one member state would be recognized in all 27 EU countries. Consequently, an aircraft registered in France would be able to offer mobile communications services to passengers when flying over Germany or Hungary without the need for acquiring additional licenses. A Commission document stated that it expected that non-member countries located on the EU’s boarders would associate themselves with the accord to ensure that services could flow to and from the bloc without interruption. For further details, see the press release on the EU website.Much of the world is moving toward allowing in-flight cell phone communication, while the FAA and the FDA resist any change. What’s your opinion? Share your views at the Telecommunications Community Forums.
EU Moves Toward In-Flight Cell Phone Calls
