On flights within Europe, passengers will soon be able to use their mobile phones on board. The European Commission has decided that with slower mobile data, 5G technology can be provided by airlines on board.
Member states of the economic bloc have a little over six months, until 30 June 2023, to make the frequency available for aircraft. However, how this will be implemented has not yet been specified.
In addition to searches, passengers will be able to use the data in streaming, music or video apps. “The sky is no longer the limit when it comes to the possibilities offered by super-fast, high-capacity connectivity,” said Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market.
Passengers are often instructed to put devices such as cell phones, computers and smart watches into airplane mode during takeoff and during flight. Some aircraft offer the possibility to use Wi-Fi with limits and depending on the equipment on the ground.
Airplane mode was necessary due to the lack of knowledge of how this type of equipment affects the aircraft. The concern was that the devices could interfere with automatic control systems.
“What we have found from our experience is that the risk of interference is very low. The recommendation has always been that devices should be in airplane mode during flight,” said Dai Whittingham, chair of the Aircraft Safety Committee. BBC from UK.
Source: Tec Mundo
