EU gives approval for in-flight mobile phone calls

The European Commission has approved plans for the use of mobile phones on flights across Europe's airspace.

The commission announced measures that will create a single set of technical and licensing requirements for airlines wishing to allow mobile use during flights. This will enable a permit granted to an operator based in the UK to be valid for flights to other European destinations.

"Pan-European telecom services, such as in-flight mobile telephony, need a regulatory 'one-stop shop' to operate throughout Europe and this is why the commission has acted today," said telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding.

"One regulatory decision for all European airspace was required for this new service to come into being. Now we expect operators to be transparent and innovative in their price offerings."

Last month the UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, confirmed plans to allow airlines to deploy in-flight mobile telephony. Call signals will be picked up by an aircraft's satellite communications system and relayed to receivers on the ground.