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In-flight Wi-Fi has been missing from the services offered by Indian airlines for years but now it is going to change.
Indian airlines can finally adopt inflight Wi-Fi services for the fliers.
The wait could be finally over. Fliers in India will soon get a chance to use the internet when they are airborne, and this will be provided by airlines like Indigo, Air India and more. The Indian government has notified the feature recently, which will allow people to use WhatsApp or stream videos on YouTube when they at an altitude of over 3,000 meters.
We have been hearing about the in-flight Wi-Fi coming to the Indian airspace for years but things have moved slowly in this regard. The new ruling suggests the airline operators now need the setup ready to be part of the planes and marry them with service providers for a nominal fee.
Under Flight and Maritime Connectivity Rules, 2018, the government has mandated that In-flight and Maritime Connectivity service providers shall provide the operation of mobile communication services in aircraft at a minimum height of 3,000 metres in Indian airspace to avoid interference with terrestrial mobile networks.
The government has clarified that in-flight passengers will be able to use internet services through Wi-Fi only when electronic devices are permitted to be used in the aircraft even after it attains altitude of 3,000 metres in Indian airspace.
“Notwithstanding the minimum height in Indian airspace referred to in sub-rule (1), internet services through Wi-Fi in aircraft shall be made available when electronic devices are permitted to be used in the aircraft,” as per the new rule notified earlier this month.
(With PTI inputs)