When AT&T and Verizon activate their new C-Band 5G networks, the aircraft industry predicts a “catastrophic” occurrence. As per a reputable source, the CEOs of six major passenger and freight airlines, including Delta, United, and Southwest, warn that interference from 5G cell towers might disrupt crucial safety equipment on their aircraft.
“Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded,” they write in a letter to the White House Economic Council, Federal Aviation Administration, and Federal Communications Commission, as well as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Immediate intervention is needed to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies.”
The airlines have requested that AT&T and Verizon refrain from providing 5G connectivity within two miles of some of the country’s busiest and most important airports. They are also requesting the federal government to guarantee that “5G is deployed except when towers are too close to airport runways until the FAA can identify how that may be done safely without catastrophic interruption.” On January 7th, the agency established 5G buffer zones at 50 airports.
The letter is the latest in a series of exchanges between the airline and telecom sectors. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon paid about $80 billion at the start of 2021 to get the FCC-allotted repurposed C-Band spectrum. AT&T and Verizon agreed in November to postpone their C-Band rollouts until January 5th to assist the FAA in addressing any interference issues. Later, they proposed reducing the power output of cell towers near airports, and on January 4th, they agreed to another two-week postponement.
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