Specially designed 'jammers' can allow mobile use on flights

Melbourne, October 15 : The Government agency that controls telecommunication in Australia has proposed allowing air passengers to use mobiles on aeroplanes.

The proposal from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) came after a recent 18-month trial showed that specially designed systems could be used without interfering with an aircraft's own communication's systems.

The agency called for public submissions on its plan to install in-flight mobile phone systems for domestic and international flights.

According to reports, the system would involved a device called a "jammer", which would block passengers' mobile phones from picking up multiple signals from numerous base stations on the ground.

The use of such jammers is presently forbidden on aircraft due to the fear that they may interfere with other on-board communications systems.

The ACMA, however, insists that the results of the recent trial suggest that this is not the case.

The agency also proposed amending legislation to allow them.

"Australia led the world when it trialled in-flight GSM mobile phone services in 2007," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman, as saying.

"There is growing recognition by regulators worldwide that in-flight mobile phone services can be deployed without interference to existing telecommunications services," he added.

ANI