Image: Verizon
US Airline CEOs warn of a catastrophic crisis which can be caused by the roll out of Verizon and AT&T’s new 5G C-Band technology. The new technology can cause delays to passenger and cargo flights and can disrupt air travel.
According to the FAA or Federal Aviation Administration, the new 5G C-Band technology could affect the altimeters onboard a plane which will prevent planes from flying in poor weather conditions.
The FAA has restricted the technology from 50 major airports with towers near runways or airfields. Airline CEOs are asking for 5G C-Band to be restricted in at least a two mile radius around the airport.
The FAA has allowed 5G C-Band technology to start rolling out on January 19, but restricted it from towers right next to major airports.
Given the short time frame and the exigency of this completely avoidable economic calamity, we respectfully request you support and take whatever action necessary to ensure that 5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can determine how that can be safely accomplished without catastrophic disruption.
AT&T and Verizon have spent billions of dollars to improve their 5G network and roll out the new 5G C-Band technology. They were granted permission last year from the FCC or Federal Communications Commission to start rolling out the technology by the end of 2021. The roll out has been delayed after airline CEOs expressed concern over the interference the new 5G technology can have with the planes onboard instruments.
AT&T and Verizon in a letter have stated that they will voluntarily turn on a limited number of towers with C-Band technology.
Here’s AT&T’s response
At our sole discretion we have voluntarily agreed to temporarily defer turning on a limited number of towers around certain airport runways as we continue to work with the aviation industry and the FAA to provide further information about our 5G deployment, since they have not utilized the two years they’ve had to responsibly plan for this deployment. We are frustrated by the FAA’s inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it do so in a timely manner. We are launching our advanced 5G services everywhere else as planned with the temporary exception of this limited number of towers.
Here’s Verizon’s response
As the nation’s leading wireless provider, we have voluntarily decided to limit our 5G network around airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and our nation’s airlines have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports, despite it being safe and fully operational in more than 40 other countries.
The C-Band technology will still rollout on January 19 but it will be limited to a few areas until the FAA is able to figure out how to solve issues related to air travel.
