[imcarthur]

From Wiki Mobile phones on aircraft

"A few U.S. airlines have announced plans to allow mobile phones to be used on aircraft, pending approval by the FCC and the FAA. The method is similar to that used in some cars on the German ICE train: the aircraft will contain a device known as a picocell. It will act as a miniature mobile telephone tower, communicating with mobile phones within the aircraft, and relaying the signals to either satellites or a terrestrial-based system. The picocell will be designed and maintained for full compatibility with the rest of the on-board avionics. Communication between the picocell and the rest of the telephone network will be on separate frequencies that do not interfere with either the cellular system or the aircraft's avionics, much like the on-board phone systems already aboard many commercial aircraft. Since the picocell's antennas within the aircraft would be very close to the passengers and inside the aircraft's metal shell both the picocell's and the phones' output power could be reduced to very low levels, reducing the chance for interference. Such systems have been tested on a few flights within the United States, under waiver from the FCC.

ARINC and Telenor have formed a joint venture company to offer such a service on board commercial aircraft. The mobile phone calls are routed via satellite to the ground network and an on-board EMI screening system stops the cellphones contacting the ground network.

These systems are comparatively easy to implement for customers in most of the world, where GSM phones operating on either of just two bands are the norm. The multitude of incompatible mobile phone systems in the United States and other countries makes the situation more difficult — it is not clear if the onboard repeaters will be compatible with all of the different cell-phone protocols (TDMA, GSM, CDMA, iDen) and their respective providers.

On 30 August 2006, the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair announced it will introduce a facility to allow passengers to use their mobile phones in-flight.

As of mid April 2007 Qantas have teamed up with Panasonic Avionics Corporation and AeroMobile to commence a three month trial that will "enable customers to send and receive e-mails, access the Internet and send and receive text messages from their own mobile phone"

On 18 October 2007 Ofcom published proposals for the technical and authorisation approach that would be adopted to allow this for European GSM users on the 1800Mz band on UK registered aircraft.

On 20 March 2008, Emirates Airline flights began allowing voice calls in-flight on some commercial airline flights.

The approval by EASA of these systems has established that GSM phones on certified aircraft types are considered safe to use when installed with a on-board cellular picocell.

On 26 March 2008 Ofcom approved the use of mobile phone-supporting picocells aboard aircraft in the United Kingdom. Airline companies will have to equip the aircraft with picocells and apply for licenses."

Ian