A telecommunication system includes an interface device on board an aircraft that interfaces with a wireless phone of a user inside the aircraft and with a wireless bearer system, and a controller that controls the interface device to maintain RF emissions of the wireless phone below a predetermined level above which RF emissions will interfere with aircraft systems. The system may also include one or more of a wireless bearer system gateway on board the aircraft that converts signals received from the wireless phone to protocols of the wireless bearer system and that converts signals received from the wireless bearer system to protocols of the wireless phone, an antenna in a cabin of the aircraft that receives output signals from the wireless phone and conveys the output signals to the interface device, a media converter that conveys the signals between the antenna and the interface device, an RF detector that detects unwanted RF emissions above the predetermined level and unsupported cellphone types, and an external antenna that respectively transmits and receives direct cellular signals to and from the wireless phone when the aircraft is on the ground.