TRAI in its recommendations made in January this year had suggested that both Indian and international airlines be allowed to offer voice and mobile data services within the Indian airspace above the height of 3,000 meters. Additionally, it suggested to provide in-flight data connectivity licenses at Re 1 per annum, a price which could be changed later. Besides this, the regulatory body had suggested that the on-board Wi-Fi should be made available to the users only when electronic devices were permitted to be used in the airplane mode.
The report suggests that the Telecom Commission has approved all of the TRAI’s recommendations except for allowing foreign satellites to provide connectivity in the airplanes.
Notably, even with all the guidelines and licenses in place, it would be difficult for the airliners to provide the facility in their airplanes owing to the nature of cost and time involved in upgrading the existing systems.
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