HomeInsightsOfcom consults on proposals to authorise terrestrial base stations allowing “direct air-to-ground” mobile satellite service (MSS) communications to aircraft.

MSS are communications satellites, intended for use with mobile and portable wireless communications for terrestrial, maritime and aeronautical service.

British satellite telecommunications company, Inmarsat plc, which offers global mobile services, plans to use spectrum in the 2 GHz band to provide broadband services to passengers on aircraft.  The company plans to do this through a combination of satellite and ground based communication links to aircraft.

Inmarsat is one of two companies awarded MSS spectrum access rights in 2009,in the 2 GHz band, under an EU-led pan-European harmonised selection and award process.

Ofcom’s consultation looks at the authorisation of terrestrial base stations, which form one end of the direct air-to-ground based links.

The closing date for responses is 18 April 2016.  To access the consultation, click here.

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