Passengers to be able to make phonecalls on European flights

Passengers may be able to make phonecalls from planes while in EU airspace, in the near future.

UK telecom regulator Ofcom has given the plan the green light and the European Union is advising other member states to also give the plan the go ahead.

Using an onboard base station, which would create an area network just big enough for the cabin of the plane, the mobile calls would be routed to a satellite, which, in turn, would route the mobile traffic to a network on the ground.

Mobile phones would have to be switched off during take off and landing as there is a risk they could interfere with other networks on the ground, and the mobile phones would only work above 3000 metres.

Ofcom says that the service could be available from as early as next year but is subject to approval from the Civil Aviation Authority.