It’s a small revolution that will please smartphone addicts. The European Commission has decided to authorize the deployment of 5G in aircraft that will circulate through the European space.
Very specifically, this decision will put an end to the “airplane” mode, which cuts off the transmission of waves. Passengers are usually required to activate this mode to avoid interference with onboard instruments. In reality, this measure, initiated by the United States in the 1990s, is still a preventative procedure as no such interference has ever been observed, other than a crackle on the pilots’ radio.
via satellites
In reality, the rules have been largely relaxed in Europe. In 2014, the European Aviation Safety Agency lifted the latest restrictions on use. Clearly, the “airplane” mode is no longer mandatory on the continent for 8 years but it was still necessary to be able to connect to the mobile network at 10,000 meters above sea level.
The deployment of 5G implies, therefore, a kind of antenna in the devices that will be connected to the satellites to allow the transmission of data. A system of this type, necessarily expensive, runs the risk of being billed at a high price for the consumer.
The latter, however, will benefit from unprecedented speed in an airplane. Member States must make the 5 GHz frequency bands available for use as soon as possible and no later than June 30, 2023.
Source: BFM TV
