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Source: Reuters -
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XT customers on some international flights can now use their mobile in-flight but it will cost up to $13 per minute, says Telecom.
Telecom has linked with Emirates and Malaysian Airlines to provide roaming services on some flights around the world, including to Australia, Asia, Europe, UK and South America.
The new service gives post-paid XT customers the ability to send and receive calls and texts, as well as access 2G mobile broadband services such as email.
Telecom's Head of Mobile Roaming, Niki Chave, says it will be particularly useful to Kiwi business travellers because it enables them to stay connected while in the air.
"It works through a combination of mobile phone transmitters on the aircraft and satellite networks. This means XT customers can access the service for the duration of the flight, apart from when their aircraft is landing or taking off."
Chave says it does not interfere with the aircraft's navigation systems as the service automatically switches on at 6,000m (20,000 ft) and switches off at 6,000m (20,000 ft) on descent.
Telecom admit that as in-flight roaming is still a relatively new development and uses technology such as satellite networks, some aspects of it will initially be costly.
"Outward calls from the aircraft are charged at $13 a minute, but only $1 a minute for inward calls. One hundred and forty character outward texts are priced at 80c each and it doesn't cost to receive them. Mobile broadband access is $40 per megabyte."
The new service currently covers more than 120 scheduled flights across Australia, Asia, Europe, UK, the Middle East, Africa and South America. It is anticipated that more flights will be added as airlines install the required technology on their aircraft.
