Ofcom Approves Mobile Use On Aircraft

UK government watchdog Ofcom has said it will approve licenses for the use of mobiles on airplanes, but warns customers may face high bills.

One of the most annoying things for UK travelers is hearing someone talking into a mobile and saying “I’m on the train.” Very soon that may be “I’m on the plane” as government watchdog Ofcom has approved the use of mobiles phones on aircraft, according to the Guardian.

However, there are limits – the planes must be above 3,000 feet, within their own airspace, and craft must be registered in the EU. Although licenses would be granted to UK aircraft operators on request, they’d still need approval by EU regulators, the European Aviation Safety Agency and the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, so nothing will happen immediately.

There’s also the small matter of the cost of making calls from the air, and in a statement Ofcom said it "will be talking to all concerned parties to understand what steps can be taken to ensure consumers understand the costs of making calls from on board an aircraft." And let’s not forget the sound of those annoying ringtones going off all over the plane. Ofcom hasn’t. Even as it’s made the move, it’s said that it "raised concerns about passenger welfare and the potential for discomfort, antisocial behaviour and ‘air rage’ on board."