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EU To Allow 3G and 4G Connections On Planes
jfruh writes "In America we're celebrating the fact that we don't have to stow our Kindles during takeoff and landing anymore, but the EU is going a step further and not requiring passengers to switch their phones to "airplane" mode anymore. If you're on an airplane with a Network Control Unit that regulate cellular connections, you can text and make calls over standard 3G and 4G networks. You'll want to watch out for roaming charges, though, especially if you're on a flight crossing national borders."
One word:
Roaming.
As long as that is no settled, nobody in his right mind will use it if sending a selfie costs 3-5€ depending on your camera.
No phone calls on planes here in the US. Please.
"You'll want to watch out for roaming charges, though, especially if you're on a flight crossing national borders."
I don't know where this comes form but carriers will have to install jammmers to disable communication with ground towers. They'll need their own station inside the aircraft which in turn connects via sattelite. So you'll likely pay the fee the aircraft carrier decides on.
Between the long lines at security, stress, and being fondled and stripped before entry, the only nice thing that was left about flying was the lack of self-important people yakking on their phones throughout the flight... until now.
(hopefully the roaming charges will make absolutely sure nobody does voice calling, but that will depend on how much they charge).
Yeah I've been using my phone during take off and landing my ENTIRE life. I hide the electronic and the second the flight attendants sit down the device comes back out. I'm listening to music. What's the point of of all this hubbub? I can't even get a signal and if I leave my phone on. It will keep trying to find a signal and will run itself out of battery faster.
Another question that baffles me, how were the people on the 9/11 flights able to use their cell phones during flight? Yeah they have the in seat phones, but i still remember hearing people say, "Yeah they used their phones!" Fun fact that everyone seems to forget.
I honestly thought that one of the reason why they have the no electronics during take off and landing was to ensure that people are paying attention to what's going on in case of emergencies.
Hell I've had stewardesses ask me (very nicely) to put away a physical textbook I was reading.
But yeah, please keep the ban on cell phone use for making calls, in fact ban any type of audio conferencing. Last thing I want is an obnoxious asshole blabbing away really loudly next to me.
Years ago in the Jeppesen Instrument Flight Manual, they had a diagram showing why using a cell phone in flight was a bad idea because the phone would "grab" (I can't remember the term) several towers as opposed to maybe a at most two when you're on the ground.
Anyone know about this?
I can't look it up because the book is long gone. I sold all my flight stuff because I can't afford it because of what looks to be permanent unemployment. I do see my license and log book and cry myself to sleep on occasion.
Having worked for a provider of these services, I can tell you that telephone calls are usually very, very short due to cabin noise and connection charges. But SMS and Data have always been a bigger draw. I see this as a win as hopefully this will nudge the FCC/FAA to become more symmetrical in the rules between the US and Europe.
The real question is what will be the cost model for UMTS/LTE vs In-Cabin WiFi as each has a entirely different set of data protocols and are routed differently once they reach the ground network.
boom goes the dynamite....
Most major flights have phones on-board that can be used. The cost would probably be about the same. But just because you are allowed 3G/4G, it doesn't mean you'll get service way up in the sky. You have to be pretty low, except where flights support those services on-board. I honestly doubt this will make anyone eager to call people, maybe in first class? Heh, sucks to be them :)
Sat next to a guy once who taught jet pilots for a living. He had an awesome flight tracker running on his laptop.
Apparently rules against phones being on during flight isn't an FAA thing, it's an FCC thing. You pass from cell tower to cell tower so fast it confuses and stresses the system.
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
This is very misleading.
This is not about regulations. You can't just use your phone on any flight and connect directly to the ground. You'll never be allowed to do that, for technical reasons.
This is about planes with onboard cell towers, which are rare, although RyanAir offered this starting 2009. So the EU has allowed it for quite a while. Nothing new here.
Also, roaming doesn't change when you cross borders, because you're not roaming on any one country's network. You're roaming on the airline's network, just like on a cruise ship. So borders are irrelevant.
Test flights of this technology have been conducted in the U.S., so the FCC and FAA are theoretically open to it.
Self importance meets a poor grasp of physics!
That must be why they crashed the plane. CAN'T LET THE SECRET OUT!!!1
We already have the ability to make calls via VoIP, Facetime, etc. Anything internet based. The vast majority of mainline domestic planes have internet and do not restrict most voice protocols. The only saving grace has been internet became so popular on planes that services like GoGo quickly ran into bandwidth and latency issues (Most planes share a single 3G gateway). That will change as upgrades happen.
There are two reasons you have to switch of your electronic devices during takeoff/landing: first, the electronic interference, which is not considered a problem anymore these days. The second, more unknown, reason is that they do not want you to listen to music so that you can hear the safety announcements. I am not talking about the usual 'live-vest is stored under your seat' story that everyone has heard 100 times, but instructions to evacuate in case of real emergencies. Since these emergencies happen mostly during the first and last few minutes of a flight, they want you to pay full attention. Source: close friend is instructor for flight crews.
karma police: arrest this man, he talks in maths; he buzzes like a fridge, he's like a detuned radio. [radiohead]
No, nobody will have to install jammers. Cell antennas are designed very well, and don't reach up into the flight levels. 20 seconds with google would tell you that.
...The problem is with lobbyists.
This process started with Europe pushing for 'phones on planes', because it had a company who had sorted out the technology, and lobbied the European flight regulators to allow it.
The US had no comparable company pushing competitive technology. So it promptly put a ban on, until US companies could come up with appropriate systems that they could sell in the US market. Because we don't want the Europeans making a killing.
Bit like Concorde, really...
I never shut off my phone.
The airlines have had over 10 years to resolve the issue, so they have no excuses, and if it's so serious that the aircraft is in danger, then it should be grounded.
Either way, they no longer have an excuse and I do not and will not shut mine off.
There are roaming cost limits in Europe. This means a maximum of 0.09 EUR per SMS. Not sure what the limits are for national calls, nor what it is for data, but the limits are reasonable within Europe.
I wonder if they will make exceptions depending on destination or if they find another way to add some extra cost to it.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
...WITH BETTER RECEPTION!
*Sound of a cabin door being opened*
In America we're celebrating the fact that we don't have to stow our Kindles during takeoff and landing anymore, but the EU is going a step further and not requiring passengers to switch their phones to "airplane" mode anymore.
You'll still need to switch to airplane mode during take-off and landing: "For safety reasons, these services are only available at altitudes above 3,000 meters, the Commission added."
You'll want to watch out for roaming charges, though, especially if you're on a flight crossing national borders.
You won't be connecting to ground networks. You'll be connecting to the plane's onboard network - you may well be charged at "roaming" rates but "crossing national borders" will have nothing to do with it.
From the article:
Aircraft offering the service have a Network Control Unit on board that works like a jammer that prevents mobile devices from connecting to and interfering with ground-based systems. They ensure they connect only to an Aircraft Base Station, which is the antenna to which mobile devices connect and runs as a cable through the cabin, it added.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.