Your travel itinerary for flying across EU countries might soon include making 5G calls in the air. A recent BBC report said that the European Union is trying to give mobile connectivity to flyers travelling across member countries within the continent. If this directive is executed to plan, passengers flying within the continent will be free to use their smartphones, laptops and other electronic gadgets without putting them in airplane mode. 

Roll Out Date

In addition to mobile connectivity, the EU has also directed member countries to make 5G frequency bands available in planes by June 30, 2023, so travellers can access web features like surfing, streaming and mid-flight calling. 

Countries Included

This directive will fall under the EU&rsquos Digital Future Strategy, and the plan will cover all 27 member states, including France, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Spain, Sweden and Ireland, among others. Another good news for flyers is that the new 5G system, when rolled out by the EU, will offer over 100 Mbps of speed, which is suitable for streaming and downloading movies and music. 

Pros & Cons

While this is, of course, big news, many people stand divided on this development. &ldquoI am glad to be finally able to listen to my music uninterrupted while flying without having to download all the songs prior,&rdquo said Smita Ganguli, a frequent flyer. Along with the pluses of this move, some are more anxious than before. &ldquoI don&rsquot think this is a good idea for two reasons. First is that I&rsquom still apprehensive about 5G bands interfering with the frequencies of the flight system, and second and more important, is the entire clan of loud talkers I can do without.&rdquo explains another frequent traveller Indrajit Chatterjee.