AT&T and Verizon to delay 5G deployment near airports after aviation outcry
Airlines had urged US regulators to step in over fears signals could interfere with instruments
18 January 2022 - 20:38
UPDATED 18 January 2022 - 23:40
byDavid Shepardson
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AT&T and Verizon Communications on Tuesday agreed to temporarily defer turning on some wireless towers near key airports to avert a significant disruption to US flights.
Both AT&T and Verizon will launch new C-band 5G wireless service on Wednesday but agreed to delay some deployment near airports that had threatened to result in flight cancellations.
AT&T and Verizon in November agreed to delay deployment by 30 days until January 5. Earlier this month, they again agreed to delay deployment until January 19 and take new steps to reduce potential interference and provide buffer zones around key airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration had warned that potential 5G wireless interference could affect sensitive aeroplane instruments such as altimeters and significantly hamper low-visibility operations.
Still, the announcements will not entirely solve the problem and officials warned they still expect some delays and issues tied to 5G involving some specific aeroplanes.
It was not immediately clear how many towers the wireless companies agreed not to activate, but airlines in recent days had proposed temporarily keeping dark 10% of towers, or about 500, sources said. Nearly all but a handful of the affected sites are Verizon towers.
The White House took an active role on Tuesday in convincing wireless carriers to again delay some service. “We’re committed to reaching a solution around 5G,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said before Verizon’s announcement
Airlines have been preparing to cancel a significant number of passenger and cargo flights in the coming hours to prepare for new 5G C-Band service that starts on Wednesday, after warning on Monday of “catastrophic” consequences. Airlines are concerned that the issue could prevent them from flying Boeing 777s and other widebody jets to many key airports.
CEOs of major US passenger and cargo carriers on Monday said new 5G service could render a significant number of widebody aircraft unusable, “could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas” and cause chaos for US flights.
The airlines on Sunday asked “that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 3.2km of airport runways” at some key airports.
AT&T and Verizon won significant C-band spectrum in an $80bn auction in 2021.
Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg told employees on January 4 the carrier saw no aviation safety issue with 5G.
Reuters
Update: January 18 2022 This story has been updated throughout.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
AT&T and Verizon to delay 5G deployment near airports after aviation outcry
Airlines had urged US regulators to step in over fears signals could interfere with instruments
AT&T and Verizon Communications on Tuesday agreed to temporarily defer turning on some wireless towers near key airports to avert a significant disruption to US flights.
Both AT&T and Verizon will launch new C-band 5G wireless service on Wednesday but agreed to delay some deployment near airports that had threatened to result in flight cancellations.
AT&T and Verizon in November agreed to delay deployment by 30 days until January 5. Earlier this month, they again agreed to delay deployment until January 19 and take new steps to reduce potential interference and provide buffer zones around key airports.
The Federal Aviation Administration had warned that potential 5G wireless interference could affect sensitive aeroplane instruments such as altimeters and significantly hamper low-visibility operations.
Still, the announcements will not entirely solve the problem and officials warned they still expect some delays and issues tied to 5G involving some specific aeroplanes.
It was not immediately clear how many towers the wireless companies agreed not to activate, but airlines in recent days had proposed temporarily keeping dark 10% of towers, or about 500, sources said. Nearly all but a handful of the affected sites are Verizon towers.
The White House took an active role on Tuesday in convincing wireless carriers to again delay some service. “We’re committed to reaching a solution around 5G,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said before Verizon’s announcement
Airlines have been preparing to cancel a significant number of passenger and cargo flights in the coming hours to prepare for new 5G C-Band service that starts on Wednesday, after warning on Monday of “catastrophic” consequences. Airlines are concerned that the issue could prevent them from flying Boeing 777s and other widebody jets to many key airports.
CEOs of major US passenger and cargo carriers on Monday said new 5G service could render a significant number of widebody aircraft unusable, “could potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas” and cause chaos for US flights.
The airlines on Sunday asked “that 5G be implemented everywhere in the country except within the approximate 3.2km of airport runways” at some key airports.
AT&T and Verizon won significant C-band spectrum in an $80bn auction in 2021.
Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg told employees on January 4 the carrier saw no aviation safety issue with 5G.
Reuters
Update: January 18 2022
This story has been updated throughout.
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