BIK_116.whatever
I'm sure that Datalink works very well over the Pacific where there is probably 1 aircraft per zillion square miles, nice little toy for the boys to experiment with without having to use nasty HF.
That system will not translate to Europe or the coastal USA without MUCH work, there are more aircraft airborne there at any time than exist in Oz in total, and in about 25% of the area, all going in different directions, climbing and descending to different destinations. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the work and experience will prove useful in defining the final solution, and I am in no doubt that Datalink will form a very large part of our lives at some point ahead in en-route environments, but as to translating it to terminal ops, then that is a step further. Let's cross one bridge at a time.
Ah, I get it now, you are from Oz and possibly an ATC person - you ALREADY think you fly the aircraft, ne c'est pas [French, for your benefit].