Azerbaijan, Baku, May 8 / Trend H.Valiyev /
Azerbaijani mobile operator Azerfon LLC (Nar Mobile trademark) plans to provide Internet access aboard AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) aircraft, the company told Trend.
Currently, voice and SMS mobile services are available aboard five such aircraft.
"It is expected that Internet access on board the AZAL aircraft will be available by the end of the year. Regarding tariffs, for the service to be in demand, its cost should be reasonable," the company said.
Voice and SMS mobile services will be available on board nine AZAL aircraft in the near future, and in 2014 the entire airline's fleet.
The Azerfon Company has a 10-year exclusive agreement with AZAL to provide the on board mobile communication services.
Mobile communications on aircraft are operated through a single ground station in Europe through OnAir, based in Amsterdam.
Base mini-stations are installed on board the aircraft which turn on, as soon as the plane reaches a height of 13,000 feet. The stations send a signal to the ground through a satellite and from there it is sent directly to the Azerfon network. Communication is automatically turned off during landing and take-off.
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