Despite some ongoing campaigns to keep the airspace mobile-free and the decision of US Federal Aviation Authority to reject in-flight mobile use in the foreseeable future, Europe is taking the road less traveled.




According to ZDNet, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries Ofcom has made a proposal to the European Union to allow the installation of a mobile base station on a plane.

As is currently the case, all mobile telephony equipment would need to be switched off during landing and takeoff. It would then be allowed on at a minimum height of 3,000m. The first phase of the service's introduction would enable GSM voice and GPRS data, but it may in future extend to 3G and beyond.

Moreover, this proposed system will only take effect in European Union airspace and will be turned off in countries restricting in-flight mobile use.

However, there's still no specific timetable for approval and implementation of this new proposal. I wonder how this will affect the decision of US FAA in the "foreseeable future".