The European Union will say goodbye to ‘airplane mode’ and allow access to 5G networks during flights

In-flight ‘airplane mode’ is about to kick off come to an end. The European Union has announced that electronic devices with internet will soon be able to be used on board aircraft.

This will be possible thanks to the fact that airlines will be able to provide the latest 5G network technology on their planes, according to a latest update carried out by the European Commission on on-board communications, which advances the designation of certain 5G frequencies for user communications.

Currently, all airlines urge passengers to activate ‘airplane mode’ during takeoff and landing by a light signal that indicates when they should do it. This is a security measure that companies implement to avoid interference with any other electrical or telecommunications system on the plane, which, if it exists, could cause a plane crash.

During the rest of the flight, it is possible to use a WiFi network previous payment in some airlines when the plane has already exceeded a certain height, and is off both the takeoff and landing runways.

As the Commission has pointed out, since 2008 it reserves certain frequencies for mobile phones on planes, a decision on in-flight communications that has recently been updated with the widespread rollout of 5G services.

Now, the European Union has announced that all passengers on board flights in the European Union will be able to both keep their electronic devices turned on such as activated mobile data, to be able to use 5G networks in them.

In this way, passengers will be able to access connectivity “to the maximum of its capacity and characteristics, as with a 5G mobile network on land”, as it has advanced through its website.

According to Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, 5G “will enable innovative services for people and growth opportunities for European companies.” “The sky is no longer a limit when it comes to the possibilities offered by super-fast, high-capacity connectivity,” he added.

In order to offer connectivity support, airlines must install a network station in your fleet, that will allow tasks such as sending calls, messages or data traffic through a satellite network to a land mobile network.

It should be noted that the European Commission has also introduced new features for road transport, where WiFi can be run with 5 GHz frequency bands in cars, buses and other means of transport. This will be effective next June 30, 2023 “at the latest”, according to the institution.