Inflight phone calls to remain sky-high

Sky-high prices for inflight mobile phone services are likely to remain expensive for the foreseeable future, says a telco commentator.

Hefty costs of $3 to $14 a minute — even in New Zealand skies — have limited the popularity of the service.

Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand chief executive Paul Brislen said high costs were unlikely to go down because airlines had a captive market. The technology also relied on expensive satellites as part of the way communications were relayed.

Brislen described costs as ‘‘stupidly expensive’’ and said they shouldn’t have to be.

He wanted research into whether calls and texts from mobile phones still interfered with flight systems.

‘‘Twenty years ago, phones put out a lot of power but that is no longer the case, so I’d rather see research done so we know for sure if phones still interfere,’’ he said.

The research hadn’t been done because it was of no benefit to the service providers.

‘‘If the phone doesn’t interfere with the plane systems, then there is no need for the expensive technology that is being used now,’’ he said.

‘‘And the phone companies can’t charge like wounded bulls.’’

Most phone companies — including Vodafone, Telecom XP, 2Degrees and TelstraClear — offered the inflight roaming services on selected international and domestic flights.

— APN News & Media