TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) on 29 September 2017 released a consultation paper on In Flight Connectivity (IFC) setting the stage for offering Internet and voice calls during your flight journey.
ALSO READ: TRAI consultation paper on In Flight Connectivity
TRAI said 27 October 2017 is the last date for receiving industry comments and 3 November 2017 for accepting counter-comments. Syed Tausif Abbas, advisor (Networks, Spectrum and Licensing), TRAI, will be the right person for further interaction.
Routehappy’s 2017 Wi-Fi Report says more than 70 airlines now offer in-flight Wi-Fi in most of the regions of the globe.
The number of connected commercial aircraft is expected to grow from 5,300 in 2015 to 23,100 in 2025, accounting for 62 percent of the global fleet.
Another study predicts that the number of aircraft offering wireless connectivity will rise to 14,000 by 2022 (a 50 percent connectivity penetration in commercial aircrafts). This study also projects that approximately 5,000 of these aircrafts will offer both Wi-Fi and cellular options.
TRAI said the launch of High Throughput Satellites (HTS) in both Ku-band and Ka-band is expected to be a game-changer for the in-flight connectivity market. HTS systems will increase data speeds to the plane compared to regular satellite systems – at lower costs.
Over 30 airlines including AirAsia, Air France, British Airways, Egypt Air, Emirates, Air New Zealand, Malaysia Airlines, Ryanair, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic allow mobile phone use on aircraft.
