Australian Regulator Considers Allowing Mobile Phone on Planes

Wednesday, 09 December 2009 05:44 Policy and Regulation

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a discussion paper containing proposals for the establishment of licensing arrangements for in-flight mobile communication on aircraft.

"In 2007 the ACMA took the regulatory lead on this initiative by approving 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 by Qantas and V Australia, the ACMA is now proposing radiocommunications licensing arrangements that would allow in-flight mobile communications services on Australian aircraft." said Chris Chapman, Chairman of the ACMA.

To date, neither Qantas nor V Australia has indicated an intention to introduce in-flight voice calls, but both have however announced plans to offer SMS and data services, subject to the ACMA making appropriate regulatory arrangements.

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; and apparatus and class licensing in areas where frequencies are not spectrum licensed.

Submissions should be provided to the ACMA by 29 January 2010.