The Federal Aviation Administration has ruled out the use of mobile phones on planes for the “foreseeable future”, reports the The Daily Telegraph, in an unconfirmed report. If true, that would maintain the ban on in-flight mobile phone use.
In Britain, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) found that between January 2000 and August 2005 up to 20 incidents of aircraft malfunction were linked to the use of mobile phones. However, the European Aviation Safety Agency gave the green light to ON Air.
Within Europe, airlines planning to allow mobile use include Ryanair, Tap Air Portugal and Air France. Emirates, AirAsia and Kingfisher airlines intend to do likewise.
This summer, Virgin America announced that they will partner with AirCell, an air-to-ground broadband internet service, launching in 2008. American Airlines, the world’s largest airline, will also use AirCell for a wi-fi trial service over the U.S.
The AirCell approach is less complex and cheaper than satellite delivered solutions since it uses terrestrial celluar towers instead of satellites for the backhaul. AirCell paid $31.3 million at an FCC auction last year to take over the 800 MHz frequencies once used for (wired) air-phone service from Verizon’s Airfone.
Several systems are planning internet access for airplanes.
- AirCell uses a terrestrial broadband system in North America. At the initial launch, in early 2008, AirCell’s broadband service will include a Wi-Fi hotspot that allows airline passengers to surf the Internet, use e-mail, and log on to their corporate VPN’s using their WiFi-equipped devices. Besides providing a terrestrial link, AirCell plans to offer Inmarsat’s new SwiftBroadband 432kbit/sec data and voice satcoms capability next year. Based on technology from established Inmarsat Aero manufacturer Thrane & Thrane, the AirCell SwiftBroadband product will be available as an add-on to the Iridium-based Axxess, which can also accommodate Inmarsat Swift 64 and forthcoming AirCell terrestrial broadband systems.
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AeroMobile is currently to committed to L-band operator Inmarsat for its soon to be introduced onboard cellphone offering. It is looking to offer email and Internet/VPN access in the longer term, and would be open to integration with the Panasonic Ku-band system in the same way its new GSM/GPRS cellular offering is being integrated with the company’s onboard IFE infrastructure. - OnAir, a joint venture of Airbus and Tenzing, will use Inmarsat’s new spotbeam satellite system and offer lower connection fees. OnAir provides some 492Kbits/second to aircraft cabins. The Pacific satellite (F-3) should be operational next year with service expected in 2008.
- Row 44 would lease satellite capacity and obtaining other technologies through Hughes Communications. Their proposed system has the ability to expand to Europe and common airline routes across the Atlantic and Pacific.
- Panasonic’s Global Communications Suite picks up the gautlet laid down by the defunct Connexion, using a small antenna design, simple installation and high speed Ku band satellite links.
- Virginia-based International Communications Group is now offering its ICS-200 dual-channel Iridium satcoms system integrated with the Aero-HSD+ Inmarsat high-speed data terminal from Danish supplier Thrane & Thrane. The combination gives passengers a choice of Iridium and Inmarsat voice channels and adds the 64kbit/sec data capability of Inmarsat’s Swift 64 service. The same phones and other communications devices in the cabin can work through both satellite systems, using the ICS-200 Iridium interface and the built-in PBX of Aero-HSD+. The first ICS-200/Aero-HSD+ systems are expected to be available from this autumn.
- US cabin equipment specialist NAT Seattle is showing an airborne server designed to allow passengers to communicate via their own dual-mode cellular/WiFi phones. Running software developed by Danish-based satcoms solutions provider Satcom1, NAT Seattle’s AR250 JetLAN has been successfully tested with the Inmarsat Swift 64 and Aero H+ services, which are used for the air-to-ground link.
In Flight Online reviews the different approaches to deliver airplane wireless services. Satellite-based systems are required for transoceanic flights.
Related DailyWireless stories include; AirCell on Virgin by 2008, Wireless Voice on Airplanes? Yes & No, Connexion On Again?, Dis Connexion, Connexion Dying, AirFone Dead, Airplane Wireless Auction (Virtually) Over, and AirCell Demos Inflight WiFi, Lufthansa & AA Trying WiFi — Again, Connexion Press Junket.
