The use of 5G both in the air and on land will soon be possible. On November 24, the European Commission authorized the use of this technology in aircraft flying over the EU from June 30, 2023. Passengers will be able to send messages, watch videos or browse the internet at 10,000 meters above sea level using a mobile phone. the data – at a certain price, but not being able to make calls so as not to disturb other passengers. “The sky is no longer the limit when it comes to very high speed and high capacity connectivity optionssaid Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market.
It remains to be seen whether airlines will play the game despite this permission. The deployment of 5G requires the installation of special equipment called: pico cell, in order to connect the aircraft to the satellite network. A costly investment that can be passed on to the ticket price. Not to mention that 5G threatens to cannibalize the Wi-Fi offering that is deployed on more and more aircraft and for which companies pay for the option.
Near the end of airplane mode?
If putting your smartphone in airplane mode has become a habit among passengers, it is no longer an obligation since 2014. That year, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) allowed the general use of mobile phones in flight, citing the risk of interference. With an inboard system, it’s almost zero. However, it leaves airlines free to observe this precaution or not. This explains why even today flight crews invite us to put our laptops on airplane mode during takeoff and landing. To avoid unpleasant surprises on the phone number, it is also recommended to turn off mobile data once in the air. Unwittingly connecting to the internet can indeed incur astronomical roaming charges.
The installation of 5G antennas in and around airports in the US at the beginning of the year caused panic in the aviation industry, to the point that some companies chose to stop their flights. The question: fears that 5G waves could endanger landing planes because they use frequencies too close to those used by altimeters. The deployment of 5G near airports has been delayed for six months while the Civil Aviation Administration (FAA) and telecom operators agree on new standards. Such a scenario is impossible in Europe, where the frequency bands used for 5G differ from those used in the United States.
Source: Le Figaro
I’m Ashley Mark, a news website author for Buna Times. I specialize in writing articles about current trends and breaking news stories. With my passion for uncovering the truth behind every story, I strive to bring readers the most up-to-date information available.