(www.internetnews.com via NewsEdge) European budget airline Ryanair plans to offer cell phone and satellite broadband connections by the second half of next year.
With the service, passengers will be able to call, text and email using their mobile phones, BlackBerrys and Treos at international roaming rates. Developed by OnAir, the service will be offered on all Ryanair flights of more than 360 routes serving 23 countries across Europe.
OnAir plans to fit 50 Ryanair aircraft with the service during 2007, with the remainder of the fleet receiving installations in early 2008.
The onboard technology will connect to satellite broadband links and a ground network to be supplied by OnAir's infrastructure partner, Monaco Telecom.
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