UK airlines given inflight mobile go-ahead

British airlines could soon be considering rolling out inflight mobile phone access for their passengers after the communications regulator confirmed it is to set out plans to allow them to do so.

Ofcom said that carriers will be able to provide mobile communication services on aircraft registered in the UK if they want to, as long as the plans receive approval from UK and European aviation authorities.

The services would work by allowing passengers' 2G phones to connect to an inflight base station, which must both be turned off during take-off and landing but can be turned on at 3,000 metres.

Flyers will then be able to send and receive calls and text messages - which are billed as usual by the relevant operator - using the plane's own network service. These calls can be routed to the ground via a satellite link.

If this proves successful further plans to enable the service for 3G handsets could be rolled out in the future, Ofcom said.

The announcement came days after Emirates announced that the world's first authorised inflight mobile phone call had been made on one of its services.

• Exeter Airport toasts record-breaking month
• Air France tests mobile boarding passes
• Bmi doubles flights from London to Moscow
• British Airways business class check-in open at Terminal 5
• Gustav not as severe as first feared
• New Zealand celebrates 'top country' award
• Luton Airport invests in multilingual technology
• Airlines take action as Gustav approaches
• Terminal 5 hosts impromptu basketball match
• Airline collapse leaves 60,000 looking for transatlantic flights