The Altobridge Split Architecture was selected by the ARINC / Telenor joint venture, AeroMobile, enabling the world’s first commercial deployment of In-Flight Mobile Communications.

The tried and tested technology has met stringent international safety regulations, so that passengers can make and receive calls and text messages safely on their own mobile devices. A miniature base station/gateway is installed on the aircraft, and the onboard system is switched on by crew only at cruising altitude. When passengers switch on their phones they connect to the onboard system at a low power level which avoids interference with the aircraft systems.

Aeromobile stated that:

“As the first to market with in-flight cellular communications, it marked a new era for more than two billion users across the globe, enabling seamless communications while onboard aircraft. The Altobridge Split Architecture is at the heart of our solution and provides us with unique, cost-saving capabilities for existing and new generations of satellite and wireless systems. Mobile communications form an inextricable part of everyday life and AeroMobile’s in-flight solution provides users with the freedom to remain in contact while on board.”

In March 2008, the world’s first commercial in-flight mobile phone service was enabled by Altobridge’s technology delivered by AeroMobile aboard an Emirates Airline Airbus A340-300.

Bjorn-Taale Sandberg, Chief Executive Officer of AeroMobile commented at the time that:

“Altobridge technology was integral to the AeroMobile system and provides us with unique capabilities in the aviation marketplace, such as the ability to operate over all Inmarsat satellite communications systems. The Altobridge AM Gateway Platform allows AeroMobile and our airline customers to benefit from the highest level of service, while at the same time minimising use of aircraft satellite links, improving the commercial viability of our service.”

Since then, Aeromobile has signed up a number of airlines including; Emirates, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Saudi and Malaysian Airlines, and has over 250 roaming agreements with mobile network operators.

How it works:

The solution is GSM-based, addressing internationally approved frequency bands e.g. 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz, and utilises the power control technologies inherent within core GSM technology enabling it to ‘instruct’ handsets to transmit only at a specific, low power level deemed by the regulators to be safe. These layers of GSM Pico technology set an extremely low RF signal strength for any GSM-based personal communications devices operating in the cabin network. The system links passenger cell phones to an Altobridge GSM mobility gateway, which integrates with existing onboard satellite installations and communicates with terrestrial networks via this satellite link.

Passengers simply roam onto the aeronautical network in the same way that a subscriber roams from one country to another. Calls to and from these roaming subscribers are charged to the subscriber’s home account and appear on the subscriber’s bill like any other roaming call.

For more information please contact: www.aeromobile.net.