EU to Cancel Flight Mode and Start 5G Cellular Network
Smartphone or tablet devices should be kept in offline or aeroplane mode while travelling in aircraft. However, the European Union (EU) is going to withdraw from this ban soon. As a result, passengers will be able to use the 5G cellular network while travelling by air. Discussions are also going on about this.
Passengers will be able to use the 5G network on planes from next year if EU members reach a final decision. According to information, the EU is discussing about ensuring the presence of 5G connectivity in aircraft. When this facility is launched, passengers will be able to make calls and watch videos through the internet while in flight.
Passengers have been barred from using global cellular connections during long-haul flights. For this reason, all the manufacturers now provide built-in aeroplane mode in their smartphones. This rule is to maintain uninterrupted radio communication with various ports while in the air. But that will be a thing of the past once the EU decision comes into force. Besides, the passengers do not have to use the weak and low-speed Wi-Fi connection provided during the journey. If the decision becomes effective, the web can be browsed only with the 5G data of the cellphone.
It is not yet clear how the 5G network will be available. Because member states can buy the 5G frequency bands till June 30, 2023. If the facility of using this network is added, the passengers will get the facility of calling during the flight as well as watching music and videos through various apps using data.
Thierry Breton, head of the EU's internal market department, said the plan would help European companies expand in addition to introducing innovative services for people.
On the other hand, since 2008, the EU Commission reserved certain frequency bands for aircraft. Some of them had internet facilities. But these services were slow from the beginning. Because this process required the use of satellites to establish a connection between the aircraft and the instruments on the ground.
Faster downloads can be made using the 5G network while travelling by air. According to a British mobile network company, download speeds can exceed 100 megabytes per second. As a result, passengers can download their favourite movies or games within minutes. The chief executive of the UK's Flight Safety Committee, Dai Whittingham, said in an interview that Airplane Mode was important because there is little research and information on how cell phones affect planes. There were also concerns that these could interfere with the automatic flight control system.
He said, after entering the flight, all the devices used in telecommunication were asked to be put in aeroplane mode. Currently, in terms of various surveys and studies, it appears that the level of risk in using cellular networks is very low. There were fears that the different frequencies of the 5G network could interfere with aircraft communications. There was also criticism that network effects could lead to inaccurate ground height measurements. However, the United Kingdom and EU countries will not have a problem, said Dai Whittingham.