While plans for in-flight mobile phone use have been tabled in the U.S. for now, regulators in Europe seem to be paving the way for such services. The EU has recommended that member states approve of the new in-flight technology, which already has spectrum reserved for it, according a report from the BBC. Calls made from the air would be more expensive and U.K. regulator Ofcom said it would investigate any evidence of "excessive charges and abuses of competition" if any prices seem unfair. Mobile use is prohibited on planes currently because research has shown that it interferes with navigation bearing displays by up to five degrees.
For more on the EU's stance on in-flight wireless:
- read this article from the BBC