Mobile phone calls will be allowed on planes flying in European airspace under new rules established by the European Commission.

The decision took three years of hearings and negotiations, and pressure from business travelers, airlines and manufacturers of new in-flight mobile phone systems, but Europe now has a standardized code to match up technical and licensing requirements across borders.

However, at this time only 6 passengers on any given flight can get a signal at the same time, although there are plans to expand it to 12.

Airlines are currently thinking of ways to offer the new service. Among the ideas considered: mobile-free sections of the aircraft, or use at limited points in the flight.

Cell phones will have to be switched off during takeoff and landing, and will not operate over countries that prohibit passengers from using their cellphones in during flights.

To ensure that the phone calls don’t interfere with the airplane equipment, they will be linked to the ground through a mini cellular network stored in an overhead luggage compartment.

The network’s purpose is to create an area of coverage in the aircraft that connects, via a satellite, to mobile networks on the ground. Cell phone companies are expected to establish roaming rates as if they were international calls; depending on the provider, these could range from €2 to €3 per minute ($3.2 to $4.8).