Plans approved for mobile use on planes

Communications watchdog Ofcom has given its backing to plans to enable airlines to offer mobile phone use on planes.

Mobiles are currently banned on aircraft and the only way for passengers to speak to people on the ground is by using airlines' own communication networks.

However, new plans could allow travellers to connect their phones to an onboard base station, which could be used when the plane reaches a minimum altitude of 3,000 metres.

The proposals are still at an early stage, with bodies such as the European Aviation Safety Agency still required to give their full approval to various elements of the initiative.

Airlines will be allowed to decide whether they adopt the new technology, if it is approved, and would have to install operating procedures to ensure that cabin crew were able to use the new systems.

There has been some criticism of the plans and David Tansley, telecoms partner at business advisory firm Deloitte, said that some passengers may not be interested in using their mobile while flying.

"Social norms, as well as excessive background noise, may dissuade most people from making phone calls in crowded planes," Mr Tansley told the Guardian.

"The likely charges and distribution of revenues across the various involved parties are unclear - it's not certain who the winners will be. The losers will be passengers who find themselves seated next to a cost-no-object mobile user."