When you’re on a long flight, you really want to watch a new show or listen to an album. However, unless you’ve downloaded it in advance, you’re out of luck. Although some flights offer Wi-Fi, it is often slow, expensive, and does not allow streaming.
In Europe, at least, it’s about to become easier to access data while in the air. Passengers can now access their data at top speeds onboard planes using 5G technology, according to the European Commission. European Union member states are about to make the 5G network accessible on flights, by June 30, 2023. It’s time to put an end to Airplane Mode!
According to a BBC report, the European Union is paving the way for mobile connectivity on flights within the continent. Crews will not likely prompt passengers to turn on airplane mode when boarding. On flights, airlines could offer 5G connectivity. This means passengers could use their mobile phones and smartphones to place and receive calls or access data services for video streaming, web browsing, and texting.
5G frequencies in Europe and the UK have lower power than those in the US, according to the BBC. It was feared that 5G signals would interfere with automatic flight control systems in the US, but this wasn’t the case in Europe. This interference is less likely to occur in the EU due to the specific bands used, which is why the directive favors’ passenger convenience here. Despite this, you’ll still need to switch off your phone on transatlantic flights – at least for now – although you can use it across Europe.
As these 5G channels become available in the air, passengers could connect directly to towers on the ground instead of using satellite links. The ability to stream is a big bonus, but there should still be sensible restrictions on making voice and video calls in the air.
