New Delhi, May 1: Minister for Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday lauded the Telecom Commission’s approval for offering in-flight connectivity within Indian airspace. Prabhu said that the decision would enable flyers to avail data and voice services during flights over Indian airspace and the government will now work towards creating the licensing framework for a special category of service providers called ‘In-flight' connectivity provider.

With the latest development, the passengers will now be allowed to use mobile phone calls and internet services in domestic and international flights in India in the next three to four months. “Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) allowed the use of mobile phones for both voice and data services in the Indian airspace in domestic & International flights. They will be notifying the final draft which will take 3 months’ time”, Prabhu added.

The Minister further added that these developments mean that airlines are now equipped to bring dramatic, yet cost-effective, enhancements to the passenger experience –with passengers ordering products from their phones and tablets and arranging to have them delivered to their homes or the hotel on arrival at their destination. He said that connectivity to the ground means cabin crews can help passengers to change their onward transit plans to accommodate for changes to their flight, while they are still in the air.

Prabhu assured that he will ensure the earliest implementation and complimented those involved in the decision. Re-iterating the government’s commitment in improving the services to air passengers he stated that a new India is in the making under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi where everything is undergoing a positive transformation, from mindsets to methodologies.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2018 05:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).