Airline passengers who love to gain the most use from their smartphones will surely appreciate the European Union’s recent legislation, which was issued at the end of 2022. The new ruling is set to allow full internet access via the 5G network. The system will also permit passengers to send and receive phone calls. Up until now, passengers have only been able to use the restrictive airplane mode for safety reasons, so what has changed?
How Airplane Mode is to be Replaced
Passengers have long been aware that airplane mode was necessary to prevent interference with the aircraft’s on board electronic systems, particularly for altitude readings. However, in an age when modern communication networks are reliably super fast, airplane mode has appeared to be a frustratingly outdated service. Due to enhanced technological advancements, the 5G network, which was introduced in 2019, is to provide the solution for mobile users on all EU flights. The wireless technology employed by the 5G network has much lower latency than the current 4G system. 5G runs at less than five milliseconds, while 4G often wavers between sixty and ninety-eight milliseconds. A significant advantage of low latency is a much-increased speed of approximately 100 Mbps for downloads. It could enable an entire film to be installed on a mobile phone in merely a few minutes. The 5G network operates on multiple satellites using a method known as Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM). The system uses a modulating signal that can cross multiple channels while reducing interference. Following extensive research into electronic interference, the new 5G network is considered safe for airline use.
Extensive Communications when Airborne
The new ruling regarding the 5G network and smartphone use on airplanes is to be introduced on 30th June 2023. The new system will introduce a massive upgrade of how passengers may access the internet. It should provide a superior quality of communications and entertainment during flights. The 5G network in itself is designed to provide simultaneous, super fast access for an increased number of multiple users. Passengers can expect phone calls to be made and received as efficiently as when on the ground. Apps are notoriously heavy users of data, but the high, multi-Gbps data speeds should allow effortless internet browsing. Passengers can look forward to accessing various sites on the web, from Netflix and streamed music channels. However, there is currently no clear information on how the system will be installed or how much the charges may be. When crossing international borders, EU flights entering the airspace of another EU member state are not expected to incur roaming charges. Any flight paths outside EU borders will probably be subject to a nominal roaming charge. This will affect the cost of sending text messages and phone calls. Today’s society places great importance on instantaneous, constant communication. Passengers will no doubt be pleased to find an improved internet service during flights.
