Boeing Co. unit Connexion expects to start selling cellular phone services to airline passengers as early as next year, the company said.

"We expect that once the regulatory issues and the social issues are ironed out we'll be introducing that (mobile phone) service as well," said Laurette Koellner, president of Connexion by Boeing, the unit which offers in-flight Web access. "We're projecting that to be some time next year."

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing its ban on the use of phones and other wireless devices on planes.

However, U.S. passengers overwhelmingly oppose lifting the ban, according to an April poll by the National Consumers League and a flight attendants' union.

But Koellner said she expected some kind of compromise solution that would either mandate certain quiet periods on flights or create quiet zones, with the first being the most likely solution.

While Connexion is by far the dominant player in providing in-flight broadband access, it would face more competition in the area of cellular service.