Wifi above Indian skies

IF YOU’VE FOUND yourself frustrated at online blackouts over Indian airspace, then some good news from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which has announced that voice and data connectivity will soon be allowed on-board domestic and international ights. e Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju con rmed this on Twitter.

e implementation could take six months and TRAI still needs to work out details with licensing, security, spectrum related issues and other conditions. A mechanism will be put in place for lawful interception and monitoring of wi for security reasons. Once the policy comes into play, airlines will partner with service providers to set the new scheme into motion. In- ight connectivity already exists worldwide on aircra managed by non-Indian airlines.

• A number of Chinese airlines have begun to allow passengers to use smartphones during ights, following a loosening of the Civil Administration of China’s (CAAC) restrictions on in- ight mobile device usage.