The world is edging closer to mobile communications on flights—or at least, Europe is. UK regulator Ofcom has issued a consultation on the matter after negotiations with other European countries, reports CNet, which notes that the service may have to be switched off when flying over countries not involved in the deal, such as the US. It will involve having a base station on the plane, so that the signal doesn’t destroy terrestrial communications (Gizmodo has a diagram), and “the first phase of the service’s introduction would enable GSM voice and GPRS data, but it may extend to 3G and beyond in the future”. Exactly what effect this will have on the mobile content industry I’m not sure, but from Australia to London is a 20-hour commute, that’s a lot of mobisodes…