Staying connected a mile high

A few weeks ago the thought of being as connected in the air as you are on the ground using onboard broadband and mobile phones looked like a definite no-no.

The alleged bomb plot in Britain prompted heightened security and temporary bans on the use of electronic devices on some flights. It also made airlines and technology providers reassess their plans to turn the aeroplane cabin into a mobile office.

But experts say connectivity - already a reality for passengers on Scandinavian, Singapore and other airlines with broadband - will continue to be important to travellers and to carriers as a point of difference in their fight for market share.

Now Qantas (http://www.qantas.com.au) has announced it will trial mobile telephony on one of its Boeing 767 aircraft on domestic routes next year.

Qantas group general manager, customer product and service, Lesley Grant, says business travellers are demanding connectivity, especially email access, so they can use their travelling time more effectively.

Email will be available on GPRS-enabled handheld devices such as the BlackBerry and smart phones as well as laptops with a network card at dial-up speed. Calls and text messaging will be possible on GSM phones with global roaming accounts during flights.

Calls will be billed by each passenger's own telco in line with international roaming rates, according to Qantas. CDMA and 3G phones will not work during the trial.

Mobile phones will connect to a mini-base station on board the aircraft known as a picocell. This will pass calls through a satellite connection to ground-based mobile networks via a gateway in Norway. The picocell controls the power output of the mobile phones and throws a low radio frequency blanket over the cabin to prevent handhelds from interfering with the plane's navigation instruments as they try to connect to base stations on the ground.

The three-month trial will be conducted with Telstra and avionics companies to ensure the technology fulfils regulatory and customer expectations.

In 2007, Qantas will receive the first of its Airbus 380 fleet. According to OnAir, a joint-venture between Airbus and transport communications company SITA, the fleet will be equipped ex-factory with the picocell and a high-speed wireless network to provide full broadband internet access to Wi-Fi enabled laptops, PDAs and mobile phones. OnAir will retrofit the system to older aircraft next year.

Full story at SMH