Weblog: 'I'm on the plane': the disturbing idea of airborne calls

One of the last refuges from the mobile phone will be breached before the end of the year after the European Commission yesterday set out the rules for in-flight mobile use.

The formal agreement covers legal and technological conditions for all 27 EU nations to permit mobile use in their airspace within six months. But cries of “I'm on the plane” could be heard within weeks on some airlines: Ryanair is understood to be planning mobile use on all European flights while Air France, bmi and the Portuguese carrier TAP are running six-month trials to gauge passenger reaction.

Other airlines are not planning to allow calls. Lufthansa said yesterday that it would allow only internet usage after research showed that a large majority of passengers were opposed to the use of mobile phones.

Viviane Reding, the EU Telecommunications Commissioner, said that Brussels would not cap the cost of airborne mobile use, but that it would monitor prices. “In-flight mobile phone services can be a very interesting new service, especially for those business travellers who need to be ready to communicate wherever they are,” Ms Reding said.

She said that if consumers received hefty phone bills, the service would not succeed, adding: “I call on airlines and operators to create the right conditions on board aircraft to ensure that those who want to use in-flight communication services do not disturb other passengers.”

A spokesman for a company that is developing the technology said that a maximum of 12 calls would be possible on board the aircraft at any time, and that airlines would be more likely to manage mobile use than to establish quiet zones. The pilot would have the power to switch off the voice element while allowing texting or internet use, he added.

The EU agreement followed an announcement by Ofcom two weeks ago that flights above Britain could allow mobile technology. It would work by placing a miniature phone mast on the aircraft, which will relay mobile signals direct to a satellite rather than to the ground. This would keep the strength of each signal low enough to reduce the possibility of interference with the aircraft controls, according to the EU.

Phil Shepherd, from bmi, said that the system would be tested from June on its Heathrow-to-Moscow route. “I think this is a natural development because there are people who want it, especially businesspeople who want to use BlackBerries,” he said.

A spokesman for Ryanair said that 20 aircraft would be fitted with mobile phone technology by June and that the rest of its fleet would follow. “We will be encouraging passengers to talk to their hearts' content and charging rates in line with international roaming rates,” he said. “Our flights are all daytime flights and are never quiet places because we are constantly selling food, drinks and scratchcards anyway.”

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