July 4, 2005

Germany to allow cell phone use on commercial flights

by Dhiram Shah

The German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing will next year lift the ban on the use of mobile phones on commercial flights. The German Aerospace Centre says that mobile phone signals do not interfere with onboard electronics. Several European airlines are also considering the removal of the in-flight ban on GSM phones. Last year, the US Federal Communications Commission proposed lifting the ban on the use of GPRS, EDGE and 3G phones onboard. Initially, only the 1800 MHz variants would be allowed to use. It means you no longer have to switch off your phone, but full GSM access at 35,000 feet isn’t technically feasible without some help. Taken via The Register