Most people are probably annoyed for having to turn off their phones during flights, but that is not the case anymore as long as travelers are in the European skies, according to a decision announced at the beginning of this week by the European regulators. It is for the first time that such an approval was given, considering the fears that the use of mobile phones during flight could compromise safety.

According to the European Commission, passengers’ phones will be linked to an onboard cellular network which will connect via satellite, instead of directly to the mobile networks on the ground. The flight captain will have the ability to turn off the service if necessary, but according to the European Commission, “transmission powers are kept low enough for mobile phones to be used without affecting the safety of aircraft equipment.”

“In-flight mobile phone services can be a very interesting new service especially for those business travelers who need to be ready to communicate wherever they are, wherever they go,” said Viviane Reding, EU’s Telecoms Commissioner, highlighting another important issue: costs.

“We expect operators to be transparent and innovative in their price offerings,” said Reding. […] If consumers receive shock phone bills, the service will not take-off.

There are a lot of sides to this decision, as it may make some passengers unsatisfied with the noise cell phone use would create during flight, and create safety concerns for those who are not convinced the system might actually work. “I also call on airlines and operators to create the right conditions on board aircraft to ensure that those who want to use in-flight communication service do not disturb other passengers,” Reding added.