US airlines had expressed concern several times about possible interference from 5G with sensitive aircraft electronics such as radio altimeters.
(Photo: AP)
Washington US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and the head of the American Air Safety Authority, Steve Dickson, called on telecommunications companies AT&T and Verizon Communications on Friday to suspend their introduction of 5G cellular communications in the C-band spectrum due to safety concerns To move aviation industry. “We ask your companies to postpone the introduction of the commercial C-band service for a short period of no more than two weeks beyond the currently scheduled date of January 5th,” said a letter from the Minister of Transport and the FAA, Reuters is available.
The FAA and US airlines had expressed concern several times about possible interference from 5G with sensitive aircraft electronics such as radio altimeters. Both Verizon and AT&T said they had received the letter and were reviewing it. The two companies had recently accused the aviation industry of holding the provision of C-band spectrum hostage until the wireless industry agreed to pay the cost of upgrading obsolete radio altimeters.
Buttigieg and Dickson said the commercial C-band service would begin as planned in January, with certain exceptions near priority airports. The FAA and the aviation industry would identify priority airports around which a buffer zone would allow flight operations to continue safely while the FAA completed its assessment of the G5 interference potential.
The US government is working to find solutions for all priority airports to allow most large commercial aircraft to operate safely in all conditions. This will ensure the activation of 5G mobile communications by March 31st – provided no unforeseen problems arise.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
More: Disappointment 5G – Why the new standard still brings little to customers