Ofcom has given the go ahead to allow airlines to offer mobile communication services on UK-registered aircraft, although Ofcom said the offer would be subject to approval by both the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK.
Airlines would install an onboard GSM picocell base-station or base-stations to generate the requisite coverage area. Once the aircraft reaches 3,000 metres, the system would be switched on and customers could then connect to the base station, which in turn would hand-off the signal to a satellite connection.
Initially the system would use current 2G systems and Ofcom said that 3G technology could be used if the system was successful. Ofcom said it " Understands that billing will be through your network operator using roaming agreements similar to those when you go abroad."
Ofcom also said that when people received a call in-flight, the cost would be a matter between them and their mobile operator – however they added that they were, "Concerned about this issue as tariffs may well be high relative to other mobile communication services and there is a danger that consumers will receive unexpectedly high bills."
Satellite comms vendor Inmarsat welcomed the decision since it currently provides inflight communications for government and private users – "Much of the required infrastructure for inflight mobile phone use is already in place," added Inmarsat.
