The FCC has said it will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking next month to lift a US ban on providing in-flight GSM services through satellites.
The regulator will discuss the move at its next meeting on 12 December before it is put out for…
The FCC has said it will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking next month to lift a US ban on providing in-flight GSM services through satellites.
The regulator will discuss the move at its next meeting on 12 December before it is put out for consultation, with a final decision expected to come next year.
Tom Wheeler, who became chairman of the FCC at the end of October, said: “Modern technologies can deliver mobile services in the air safely and reliably, and the time is right to review our outdated and restrictive rules.”
Airline passengers in the US have so far only been able to connect through satellite-enabled Wi-Fi, using companies such as Row44. GSM can be more appropriate for lighter usage, leveraging on roaming agreements obtained by a customer’s mobile operator.
For GSM-only in-flight providers like UK-based AeroMobile, which has been busy striking up roaming agreements with 240 mobile operators around the world, the US represents the last big gap in its coverage area.
AeroMobile CEO Kevin Rogers said: “We are seeing increasing demand for our services as more and more airlines and passengers realise the benefits of in-flight mobile connectivity. The ease of using your mobile phone in-flight makes it perfect for checking voicemail, sending SMS messages, checking emails or updating your social media status.”
He added that SMS is the most popular service on its mobile network with 60% of passengers using it to send text massages. The group has also seen data usage rocket 200% this year.
According to Switzerland-based OnAir, which is AeroMobile’s main in-flight connectivity rival and provides Wi-Fi in addition to GSM, around 80% of its passengers choose the latter when both networks are available.
OnAir CEO Ian Dawkins said: “Forget the hyperbole about the chaos in-flight cell phone usage could cause. The issue simply hasn’t arisen anywhere in the world in the past six years.
“An aircraft is a noisy environment, so the sound of a conversation doesn’t carry very far. Flight attendants can also control the use of Mobile OnAir by disabling the voice element during quiet times, such as the plane’s night.”
