December 24, 2010 at 14:56Aeroflot began to provide mobile communications in the air
In the West, such a service has been in use for quite some time - for example, Lufthansa offers its customers access to the Web and mobile communications in general on all flights of the company. Apparently, the domestic airline Aeroflot decided to offer its customers the same service, for which it began to cooperate with MegaFon. Initially, mobile communication will be available only on board the Airbus A321 Mstislav Keldysh airliner, after which, if the “trial period” is successful, passengers will be able to use mobile communications on other aircraft of the company.
Until the end of January 2011, the connection will be free, because this is still a test period. From February, tariffs will be announced. It is worth noting that in addition to voice mobile communications, SMS, GPRS-Internet will be available. Unfortunately, an approximate connection speed has not been announced, but it is a pity it would be interesting to find out if the speed of connection to the Network via mobile communications on board the liner meets “ground” standards.
By the way, communication will begin to work only after reaching a 3-km altitude, which, apparently, is due to the requirement to turn off all electronic devices during takeoff and landing.
Aeroflot also announced that in 2011, at the beginning, mobile communications will also be available on the Airbus A330 airliner, which is a transcontinental airliner, with a flight range of up to 5 thousand kilometers.
According to the management of Aeroflot, they were not involved in similar projects before because the company was not sure of the demand for mobile communications in the air. Only now, after signing an agreement with MegaFon, they decided to check whether passengers of airliners really really need mobile communications. The problem also lies in the fact that the equipment for such communication is very expensive. However, all obstacles have been overcome so far, and the technology is being tested.
Unfortunately, the speed of connecting to the network is poor. Yet GPRS-Intetnet is not at all what the broadband connection offered by Lufthansa. But dashing trouble began ...
Until the end of January 2011, the connection will be free, because this is still a test period. From February, tariffs will be announced. It is worth noting that in addition to voice mobile communications, SMS, GPRS-Internet will be available. Unfortunately, an approximate connection speed has not been announced, but it is a pity it would be interesting to find out if the speed of connection to the Network via mobile communications on board the liner meets “ground” standards.
By the way, communication will begin to work only after reaching a 3-km altitude, which, apparently, is due to the requirement to turn off all electronic devices during takeoff and landing.
Aeroflot also announced that in 2011, at the beginning, mobile communications will also be available on the Airbus A330 airliner, which is a transcontinental airliner, with a flight range of up to 5 thousand kilometers.
According to the management of Aeroflot, they were not involved in similar projects before because the company was not sure of the demand for mobile communications in the air. Only now, after signing an agreement with MegaFon, they decided to check whether passengers of airliners really really need mobile communications. The problem also lies in the fact that the equipment for such communication is very expensive. However, all obstacles have been overcome so far, and the technology is being tested.
Unfortunately, the speed of connecting to the network is poor. Yet GPRS-Intetnet is not at all what the broadband connection offered by Lufthansa. But dashing trouble began ...