New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday released its recommendations for in-flight connectivity. TRAI in its two-page report recommended the use of internet and mobile connectivity on board flights in Indian Airspace.
According to the report, TRAI has recommended that mobile communication on flights be permitted upto a maximum height of 3,000 meters. The telecom regulator said in its report that Wi-Fi services be permitted on board flights as long as mobile phones are kept on airplane mode.
After the recommendations of TRAI, a separate category of 'in-flight communication (IFC) service providers' will be created, who will have to be registered with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to provide the service to the passengers.
TRAI in September 2017had released a Consultation Paper on 'In-Flight Connectivity' (IFC) seeking comments of stakeholders and an open house debate. The submissions had ended on November 3. After going through the comments it received, TRAI has finalised its recommendations and released them in a report on Friday. The TRAI report also makes recommendations for allowing voice data and video services on board aircraft.
IFC is categorised into two kinds. The first is internet services through Wi-Fi available on board and the second is Mobile Communication on board Aircraft (MCA). The TRAI report provides recommendations for both.