EU is bringing a new change to the way phone calls and internet usage are handled on flights. According to the latest announcement, EU flights can allow passengers to use the internet and make phone calls by the next summer.
Airlines operating within the European Union region can offer 5G services to passengers flying with them. Using this, travellers can do various activities during the flight like chatting over social media, streaming music, and making calls.
Although plane Wi-Fi is an available alternative but not many consider it a reliable option for it being public. This move to introduce 5G will allow travellers to use as much internet as they wish while they are in the air.
According to The Mirror, the news followed the EU’s announcement wherein airlines are allowed to use picocell, a special network equipment. Picocell deploys satellites on aircraft that allow phones to connect to networks on the ground.
In a press release, EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton 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.”
Till now, using electronic devices like mobile phones hasn’t been allowed to avoid interruptions with flight frequencies. Frequencies required to fly a plane fall within the range of 4.2 to 4.4 GHz. However, the 5G services allowed will operate on a 5 GHz frequency. Thus, this will likely cause no risk to the transmissions that pilots make during flights.
While that comes as a welcome step by airlines and passengers alike, it also brings certain downsides to it. Loud chatting is a common scenario for travellers travelling in trains and buses. But planes already operate in a tense environment. And adding that communication wherein one’s arguing on a mobile phone with someone would further intensify things.
While the EU has announced that airlines can use this technology, the stand of UK airlines on using 5G during a flight isn’t clear yet.
Moreover, air travel takes passengers out of their local mobile networks and using services roaming is already chargeable. Then, adding in-flight connectivity would add more to the costs. So, it is not clear yet how much passengers will have to spend to use in-flight 5G services. Airlines won’t be taking the toll and will be passing on the extra expenses to passengers. Don’t forget international roaming charges as passengers travel across international borders.
While disruption is already common these days at airports and in planes, allowing mobile phone use could make things worse.
European Union Aviation Safety Agency states that there’s a disruption of a European flight every three hours on average due to unruly passengers.