TRAI recommends allowing mobile services on-board during air travel

New Delhi, January 20: As soon as you are onboard in a flight, you lose all connection with rest of the world. But the scenario might change soon. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday gave green signal to access mobile and internet services on-board flight. TRI recommended domestic and international airlines should be permitted to offer both services.

TRAI’S recommendation:

Both, Internet and Mobile Communication service should be permitted as In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) in the Indian airspace. The operation of Mobile Communication services should be permitted with a minimum height restriction of 3000 meters in Indian airspace for its compatibility with terrestrial mobile networks. Internet Services through Wi-Fi onboard should be made available when electronic devices are permitted to use only in flight/ airplane mode.

TRAI said the IFC service provider be permitted to provide IFC services, after entering into an arrangement with Unified Licensee having appropriate authorization.

"It would ensure that there is no encroachment on the scope of terrestrial Internet service provided by telecom service providers as well as practically there won't be any appreciable discontinuity in the provisioning of Internet services to the fliers," TRAI said.