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Last Words
Fliers may soon get to use cell phones
By Paul Davidson, USA TODAY
23 October 02
The spread of cell phones may soon reach forbidden turf: airline flights. At least two companies, AirCell and Verizon Airfone, are developing technology to let passengers use their cell phones without disrupting airplane electronics or ground cellular service.
The services would have to pass muster with the Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Communications Commission, which ban in-flight phone use.
AirCell is closest to ready and says service could be on planes in early 2004. Airline officials say a rollout might be three years away. Yet there is a new push by the airlines and regulators to make in-flight cell phone use a reality.
"We certainly want to work toward enabling customers to use their own cell phones," says Mary Rogozinski, United Airlines' manager of on-board systems planning.
FCC officials say they too want to clear the way, especially because AT&T Wireless' pullout last year left Verizon with a monopoly on airplane pay phones on seatbacks.
Both companies have lost money on the phones. Average calls per flight fell from four to 11/2 in recent years, says aviation consultant Neal Meehan.
One reason has been high prices to pay for costly networks. Verizon charges $3.99, plus $3.99 a minute. New rules allowing cell phone use until the door closes also cut sales.
The FAA bars cell phone use in flight as well as other electronic devices during takeoff and landing to avoid disrupting plane electronics. AirCell's system would reduce cell phones' power and limit the number in use at once.
The FCC bans use because of ground concerns. Cell phones often don't work at 30,000 feet, but when they do, signals can reach hundreds of towers at once, clogging networks.
AirCell's system would send calls from planes to its inexpensive ground network now used by corporate jets. Its upward-pointing antennas share spectrum and towers controlled by rural cellular companies. Passengers would be, in effect, roaming on its network, just as Sprint customers roam on AT&T's network in areas where Sprint has no towers.
To ensure that its proposed service doesn't interfere with cellular service on the ground, the AirCell system would block the frequencies passengers' phones normally use.
AirCell would bill other carriers roaming fees of 75 cents to $1.50 a minute and share the revenue with airlines.
Some cell phone carriers oppose AirCell's plans. "They're going to interfere with our paying customers," says Verizon's Jeff Nelson.
Read the full article at USA Today
Links:
GSM box article of another system already in use
Wired article
Saudi officer sentenced to 70 lashes for using cell phone on flight
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