The European Commission has ruled that airlines can provide 5G technology onboard in addition to allowing mobile data.
This should mean passengers traveling in the European Union (EU) will be able to use their smartphones, laptops, or other electronic gadgets in the air.
The European Union has ordered its member states to make 5G frequency bands available in planes by June 30, 2023, and implement the new directives. Once implemented, air travelers will be able to use their smartphones to the fullest with mid-flight calling, web surfing, streaming on the net, and using apps that run on internet connectivity.
“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,” Commissioner for the Internal market, Thierry Breton, said in a statement.
The Commission “has reserved certain frequencies for mobile communications on planes since 2008.” Earlier, it had allowed airlines some limited services to “provide messaging, phone calls, and data services for passengers flying in the EU.” The current move to allow mobile communications onboard aircraft paves the way for the “wide-spread deployment of 5G services.”
According to the official press release, these services will be made available for passengers “within the cabin of an equipped aircraft using special network equipment known as pico-cell.” It will help connect the users, route calls, texts, and data “via a satellite network between the airplane and the ground-based mobile network.”
Currently, Air passengers in the EU are requested to turn off mobile phones or enable flight mode for the whole journey.
The EU is bringing the new orders of mid-flight connectivity under its Digital Future Strategy and the directives will affect all EU member states- Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
