In-flight phone calls approved

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a discussion paper containing proposals for establishing radiocommunications licensing arrangements for in-flight mobile communications on aircraft.

In 2007, the ACMA approved a trial of in-flight mobile communications on a single Qantas aircraft on domestic routes. In view of the success of the trial and service announcements, the ACMA is now proposing radiocommunications licensing arrangements that would allow in-flight mobile communications services on Australian aircraft.

The ACMA is proposing that in-flight mobile communications on aircraft be authorised and licensed by:

• third-party agreements with spectrum licensees for airspace above geographical areas where frequencies are spectrum licensed;
• apparatus and class licensing in areas where frequencies are not spectrum licensed.