ZTE tests waters with inflight Wi-fi services

Hoping the mainland will follow other markets and allow airline passengers to use mobile devices inflight, ZTE Corp has unveiled plans to offer experimental Wi-fi services on Air China flights between Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

"The experimental Wi-fi service we will provide for passengers on China's domestic flights is fourth-generation [4G]," ZTE vice-president Ye Zheng said. "This will be the world's most advanced inflight data connectivity service."

The mainland's largest listed telecommunications equipment manufacturer ran an experimental civil aviation 4G broadband service with Air China on two flights between Beijing and Chengdu in April after gaining approval from aviation regulators.

Such services will remain experimental until Beijing lifts a ban on the use of any mobile devices - mobile phones, tablets and personal computers - at any time on a flight.

However, many countries, including the United States, are now allowing passengers to use such devices from 15 minutes after take-off until shortly before landing.

Seven years ago, ZTE teamed up with Gogo Inflight Internet to build an onboard network in the US, which offers CDMA 3G services to travellers. The network is now being used by nine airlines in the US and is available on more than 1,500 aircraft.