Recently, Ofcom approved the usage of mobile phones in the European continent. In addition to that, the 27-member European Union (EU) stated that in-flight mobile phone usage is safe.
Earlier, there was a ban on the use of mobile phones on airplanes, as it was understood that the signal interfaces with in-flight communication and navigation systems.
However, a prohibition is now taken off and a progress in a new EU-proposed system has been noticed. By using the new installed low-power base station called pico cell, all commercial flights would allow their passengers to make calls, which would be later forwarded to the phone traffic on to the person’s mobile network on the ground, via satellite.
Precautions have been taken to ensure mobiles in the plane do not connect to any base stations on the ground through a network control unit on the plane. It has the ability to block the signal from the ground, which avoids the phone signals interfering with the plane’s systems.
Moreover, few rules and regulations are enforced upon the passengers to follow, that includes:
In the above mentioned altitude, other electronic devices like portable music players and laptops are allowed as well.
The European Union had worked with the Civil Aviation Administration in the United Kingdom and the European Aviation Safety Agency to make sure that aircraft and passenger safety issues are resolved before the new system can be used. Additionally, it was important that the equipment that airlines will utilize, must be approved first by the European Aviation Safety Agency, which in return assures no disagreement on the onboard cellular network with other in-flight systems.
