ACCESS ALL AIRWAYS

摘要

How many times have frequent airline flyers heard the announcement: "Please ensure that all mobile phones are switched off before you board the aircraft," and wished they could use their mobiles as freely in the air as they do on the ground? Happily, they may soon be able to, such is the momentum behind current programmes to create services that will take calls from standard cellular phones and mobile devices in the aircraft, and deliver them to the ground via the Inmarsat network. To make onboard phones a reality, the service providers must develop solutions that will not interfere with aircraft systems and ground cellular networks, and then win the approval of both the airworthiness authorities and the national and regional telecoms bodies. They are now sure they have mastered the technical challenges (see panel overleaf) and are working to convince the regulators.