European airlines can now offer 5G during their flights. This way you can use the internet (even more smoothly) during the flight on your mobile data bundle.
It is up to European airlines to offer a 5G network in their aircraft. They are not required to implement such a mobile network. In principle, this will allow travelers to use the internet even faster during their flight. Incidentally, this is not the first time that airlines can offer their customers mobile internet during flights. The European Commission has been making radio frequencies available since 2008 to implement such (mobile) networks.
5G on aircraft
It remains to be seen whether airlines will ever offer 5G networks. After all, the companies have to absorb a considerable cost for this, while they cannot offer customers an invoice for this. After all, they will pay their mobile provider. In addition, the aviation industry is strongly focused on installing Wi-Fi in their aircraft. The switch to the rollout of 5G would suddenly turn these investments into a waste of money and time.
Companies interested in the possibilities must install a so-called ‘pico cell’ in their aircraft. This is specialized network equipment that sends mobile data, text messages and calls via satellite networks to the ground. Similar equipment is currently already being used to receive and transmit data for Wi-Fi networks. The additional cost is therefore mainly for the 5G radios to distribute the signal in the aircraft.
“Faster Wi-Fi on the road”
The radio frequency executive order was not only adapted for airborne networks; road transport must also be able to offer faster internet. The European Commission has therefore determined that the 5 GHz frequency band will be available for road transport by 30 June 2023 at the latest. The change makes it possible for bus companies to make 5 GHz Wi-Fi available.
A faster Wi-Fi connection should pave the way for innovation for the car industry, is the Commission’s idea. It is not known exactly which innovations the European government body is aiming for.
