Airlines can now deploy such services on board of aircraft

Nov 15, 2013 17:01 GMT  ·  By

Today, the European Commission has announced the adoption of new rules that enable airline companies to deploy 3G and LTE networks onboard of their aircraft flying over the European Union.

Previously, Europe allowed only 2G connectivity above an altitude of 3000 meters, but the new regulation expands the range of services that users can take advantage of.

Following the new decision, airlines will have the option to deploy new in-flight Internet services for their customers, and they will be the ones to decide what to offer to them. Granted, this would certainly be appealing to travelers interested in staying connected even during flights.

However, although this decision was based on increasing demand, the EU legislation does not allow passengers to make use of their smartphones, unless individual airlines decide to provide them with such services.