19 October 2007
Mobile phones will be cleared for use on UK-based airlines, industry watchdog Ofcom has ruled.
The move follows similar decisions in other countries and will come into effect next year.
In anticipation of customer complaints that plane travel represents one of modern life's few sanctuaries from the devices, Ofcom also said that airlines should take steps to reduce potential noise annoyance.
This could see the introduction of special 'quiet zones' similar to mobile phone-free carriages already to be found in many of Britain's trains.
It is likely that the service will also cost more for users thanks to a pre-imposed international premium.
"One of Ofcom’s objectives is to create opportunities for companies to develop innovative technologies, in particular to make the most efficient use of the radio spectrum for the benefit of citizens and consumers," the watchdog said in a statement.
Similar to services already installed on international airlines, the technology would work via an on-board base station linked-up to a dish on the ground, which would in turn be linked to mobile networks.
While currently only planned to be enabled for 2G mobiles, the industry regulator said that the service would be extended to 3G if it proved successful.
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