Onboard Mobile Telephony Service

• Introduction
• Background
• System Overview
• Onboard System
• Satellite System
• Terrestrial System
• USA
• Worldwide
• References
• Authors

Worldwide Usage

 

Although use of cell phones on airplanes is still banned by the FCC and FAA in the United States, trials have been authorized in many other parts of the world. In April of 2008, the British equivalent of the FCC approved the use of all non-3G cell phones on airplanes, including the ability to place phone calls. AirFrance has begun testing the use of cell phones on some of their Airbus A-318’s. And Emirates, Air of Dubai, and Qantas, of Australia, have both signed on with Aeromobile. Aeromobile is a UK based company that is one of the frontrunners in the pico-cell technology that would aid the use of cell phones on airline flights. With these trials already in place, the U.S. will be able to gather some information on how well the systems work. This could help them to see the effects cell phones have on the equipment on the airplanes. It could help lead them to change their minds on the ban on cell phones onboard airplanes.