Flights to become much more annoying as passengers now allowed to phone people

Passengers on flights travelling within Europe will no longer have to put their phone on flight mode following a new EU ruling.

It means airlines will be allowed to let their passengers make telephone calls, text their friends, and use data to browse social media as normal.

The change has been made possible by the introduction of 5G networks across Europe. Specific frequencies within these networks will make it possible for phones to remain connected while in mid-air.

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So as well as contending with screaming babies, undrinkable water, and shrinking leg room, you can now look forward to being surrounded by hundreds of other people talking loudly on their devices when you fly.

Thierry Breton, the EU's commissioner for the internal market, said: "The sky is no longer a limit when it comes to possibilities offered by super-fast, high-capacity connectivity."

Planes will be fitted with special network equipment which will make it possible for the aeroplane to connect with satellites or ground-based mobile networks.

It's not clear which airlines will make the leap to phone-friendly flights first, but it does mean that you'll be able to ditch flight mode over the next couple of years.

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Currently, some airlines only offer WiFi. This often costs a pretty penny and doesn't have the most reliable service. No airline has confirmed whether they plan to charge customers for 5G connectivity in future.

Not everyone is happy about the change. One Twitter user, Aleksandrs Cepilovs, said: "Gone are the times when you could read a book or do some focused work while in the air."

Another wrote: "Thank you EU, for converting an existing stressful travel into a nightmare."

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