EU Passengers will be able to use 5G mobile phones inflight

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Already critics are available with their views of future flights becoming chaotic , due to an increased level of voice calls due to proliferation of 5G data inflight. But, travellers are happy with the development as they expect plane trips to become less boring , thanks to the fact that the European Union is going to allow mobile phones to connect to the 5G Internet service in full flight.

Traditionally, on each of our plane trips, it used to be a mandatory requirement to configure our smart devices such as mobile phones in “airplane mode”, but , this could change very fast, say, within months time, as announced by the European Commission itself, since You can use your mobile phone at full speed.

Within the European Union , carriers will be able to install the latest 5G technology on their aircraft , allowing flyers to use their smartphones and other connected devices just as they do on the ground.

The European Commission is adapting the legislation on mobile communications to the most modern standards . As a result, 5G coverage can also be made available on aircraft.

European countries are working actively to welcome 5G , the Spanish government has reorganised the concessions of the telecommunications operators working in the 3400-3800 MHz frequency range, which is one of the priority bands for the introduction of 5G technology in Europe.

According to the Spanish official government statement , the main objective of this reorganisation is to facilitate more efficient provision of 5G wireless broadband services, to fully take advantage of all the possibilities provided by 5G technology and, ultimately, to reduce the costs of deploying mobile communications networks in this band.

Airlines will be able to provide the latest 5G technology on their planes, alongside previous mobile technology generations as the Commission updated the implementing decision on spectrum for mobile communications on-board aircrafts, designating certain frequencies for in-flight 5G technology.

Passengers aboard flights in the EU will be able to use their mobile phones to the maximum of their capacity and features, just like with a ground-based 5G mobile network.

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal market, said “5G will enable innovative services for people and growth opportunities for European companies. The sky is no longer a limit when it comes to possibilities offered by super-fast, high-capacity connectivity.”

Since 2008, the Commission’s implementing decision has reserved certain frequencies for mobile communications on planes, allowing airlines to provide messaging, phone calls and data services to passengers flying in the EU. This update of the Commission implementing decision on mobile communications on-board aircraft paves the way for the wide-spread deployment of 5G services.

The service is provided within the cabin of an equipped aircraft using special network equipment, the so-called ‘pico-cell’, to connect the users and route calls, texts, and data, typically via a satellite network, between the airplane and the ground-based mobile network.

The Commission also amended an implementing decision on 5GHz frequency bands, which makes the bands available for Wi-Fi in road transport, for example in cars and buses.

The amending decision lays the foundation for innovations in the automotive industry and potentially for Metaverse applications. According to the amendment of the implementing decision, the Member States shall make the 5GHz frequency bands available for use aboard road vehicles as early as possible and at the latest by 30 June 2023.

Not only will this change in the European Union benefit airlines and air travel, but 5G frequencies will also be opened up to connections WiFi in cars , buses and other means of transport.

With this development, the fact of switching to the airplane mode on our mobile phones, tablets and computers inflight has the days numbered, but we expect to see multiple debates on this, before it actually happens. fl360aero.com

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