Europe allows i-flight 3G and 4G broadband he European Commission gave airlines permission to offer their passengers Internet access

via 3G and 4G connections so they can send emails and surf the Web while in flight. " his means that from now onwards! spectrum for 3G "#$ %& and 4G "' E& communications may be used above an altitude of 3!((( meters. #ntil now only )G "G%$& has been permissible on*board aircraft flying in the E.#.!" the Commission said in a news release on hursday. o enable this! new rules have been adopted for aircraft flying over the European #nion. he Commission+s announcement follows a decision by the European ,viation %afety ,gency "E,%,&! which said on Wednesday that it will allow the use of personal electronics such as tablets! smartphones and e*readers during all phases of a flight. he rules will apply to all devices e-cept bul.y ones li.e laptops! which still need to be stowed during ta.e*off! landing and ta-iing! E,%, said. he agency will issue guidance on in*flight use of devices and the use of mobile broadband connections by the end of /ovember. he moves come in response to increasing demands from passengers! who have shown more interest in writing te-t messages and emails than in ma.ing voice calls! the Commission said! adding that the amount of data transmitted on board already e-ceeds voice traffic. ,irlines will remain in charge of the services they choose to offer on board! according to the Commission. o give passengers mobile Internet access! airlines need to e0uip planes with an improved mobile communication on*board aircraft "$C,& system that ma.es use of pre*e-isting spectrum bands for 3G and 4G! the Commission said. hese systems are connected with the ground via a satellite connection and have a signal with limited power to ensure there is no interference with other communications! it added. Connecting to mobile Internet while flying over Europe could be costly. 1assengers are billed for roaming charges through their service provider! the Commission said. " he tariffs applied usually correspond to +2oaming3 rest of the world+ prices!" it said. ,ircraft offering the service have a /etwor. Control #nit on board that wor.s li.e a 4ammer that prevents mobile devices from connecting to and interfering with ground*based systems. hey ensure they connect only to an ,ircraft 5ase %tation! which is the antenna to which mobile devices connect and runs as a cable through the cabin! it added. 6or safety reasons! these services are only available at altitudes above 3!((( meters! the Commission added.