Thanks to the flight regulatory office Ofcom approving usage of mobile phones in Europe last month, usage of mobile phones will be available in airplanes.

Earlier in the last few weeks, AeroMobile, which is a joint venture of Aring and Telenor has also announced to have done their first mobile call on board of a flight of a Emirates Airline.

Might be slightly annoying to hear people call, but I hope people will deal with it and in the end there will be 1 or 2 less quiet passengers on the flight and they will just have to be asked to stop shouting or they will be discarded from the flight with a parachute and forced to freeze in the -40°C outside.

Information so far known about in-flight mobile phone usage:

  • Satellite based connection
  • Usable only above 3,000 meters (~10,000 feets)
  • GPRS data possibility to be offered later this year
  • It cost $ 27m to just equip one airline - Emirates Airlines
  • Price for passengers to talk and text at prices “comparable” to roaming rates

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