The European Commission (EC) has announced new rules which aim to harmonize conditions for the safe implementation of mobile communications on aircraft.
The measures announced by the EC address the technical requisites and licensing for the use of mobile phones, with the connection made by satellite, in order to ensure the safety of flight equipment. The harmonisation of these requisites, will enable the national licences granted to individual airlines by the Member State in which they are registered to be recognised throughout the EU.
Accordingly, a Recommendation was adopted on 7 April on a harmonised licensing approach which will promote the mutual recognition of national authorisations to provide mobile communications on aircraft. In addition, a Decision was adopted establishing the harmonised technical parameters for onboard equipment, in light of the use of mobile phones on EU flights, which will allow Member States to recognise authorisations for mobile communications on aircraft without risks to the land mobile networks.
The commercial aspects, as well as the tariff to use mobile phones on board, are not yet covered in the measures announced by the EC, given that these are new services. Accordingly the cost of mobile communication will be decided by the service provider; in the meantime the EC will closely follow the levels of transparency in the prices charged.
Consult:
- Commission Recommendation 2008/295/CE, of 7.4.2008 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=984008
- Commission Decision 2008/294/EC, of 7.4.2008 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=984041
Further information:
- Commission paves the way for in-flight mobile phone use across Europe http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/537&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en
- Commission Decisions on Mobile Communication Services on Aircraft - Frequently Asked Questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/220&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=fr
