EU allows in-flight use of mobile phones

The European Commission on Monday has given its approval to passengers' in-flight use of mobile phones, opening the way for travelers to talk, text or send e-mails on mobile devices during flights in European skies.

European Union regulator’s approval means that passengers aboard aircraft outfitted with the European GSM technology can make phone calls, send, receive SMS text and e-mail messages while flying above 3000mts.

"In-flight mobile phone services can be a very interesting new service, especially for those business travelers who need to be ready to communicate wherever they are," said EU telecommunications commissioner Viviane Reding.

For this new service to come into being, Reding has urged cell phone service providers to lower their roaming rates as passengers would not accept artificially high prices. "Now we expect operators to be transparent and innovative in their price offerings," she said. "However, if consumers receive shock phone bills, the service will not take off."

According to an EU release, the system is quite simple: the service would work by allowing passengers' phones to be linked to an onboard cellular network connected to the ground via satellite, this will allow for very low power to be used by the phones, thus making them safe for the airplane's electronic equipment.

The plane will have its own cell, a special onboard network antenna that will ensure all mobile communications on the aircraft. While connecting the phones to the onboard cellular network, the system simultaneously will prevent phones from connecting directly to mobile networks on the ground below.

The cellular service will be turned off during takeoff and landing, and the passenger would be able to use the service over base stations situated on airplanes once flights have reached an altitude of 10,000 feet. The EU plan empowers the captain with the ability to disconnect service at any time.

Cell phone voice service on planes drew mixed reaction from mobile operators and carriers. While some companies already allow phones on planes, such as KLM's Air France unit, others go against it, such as Germany's Lufthansa.

Air France said it has run successful trials in which customers could send text messages and emails, but not talk, on phones, while Lufthansa said that a large majority of customers were against in-flight phone usage, because “People don't want to be disturbed.”

The United States and many other countries bar passengers to use mobile phones in flight because of safety concerns.