(Reuters) -Britons could be making satellite calls using their ordinary smartphones later this year after the country’s telecoms regulator proposed allocating radio frequencies to enable services to begin.
Specialised equipment, such as the terminals used on ships and aircraft, is currently required to make satellite calls, although some smartphones can use low-bandwidth connections to send texts, for example to emergency services.
In January, however, Vodafone made the world’s first satellite video call using a standard smartphone in a remote region of Wales with no mobile coverage, using a trial licence.
Regulator Ofcom said it was proposing to allow mobile networks and satellite operators to use mobile airwaves – called radio spectrum – to connect mainstream handsets in the UK.
The technology could be used to provide connections in Britain’s most rural and hard-to-reach places.
Ofcom’s preferred approach would be to amend the licences already held by mobile network operators and create an exemption for handsets connecting to these services.
Alternatively, it could introduce a new licence for the services or permit licence exempt use subject to conditions.
Ofcom could begin authorising direct-to-device service later this year. The consultation period for submissions closes on May 20.
(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru and Paul Sandle in London; Editing by Janane Venkatraman and Ed Osmond)
