High-speed internet access via smartphones could become a feature on European airline flights following a deal involving the German carrier Lufthansa – but voice calls will be blocked at first.

Lufthansa will offerWi-Fion its short- and medium-haul flights from 2017, provided by the satellite firm Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom.

The companies claim their venture, which combines ground-based mobile broadband networks and the nascent satellite networks already used on some planes, will permit a more reliable, faster connection than passengers currently experience. Although Lufthansa is the only airline trialling the network so far, Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom claim it will eventually provide sufficient capacity for planes across Europe’s flightpaths.

bbabo.Net