Verizon and AT&T Will temporarily limit 5G service around some airports, the telecom giant said on Tuesday, Warning about airlines “catastrophic” disruption From this week’s rollout,
While Verizon is still gearing up for a 5G launch on Wednesday, which the company said will “enable more than 90 million Americans to experience the transformational speeds,” it also acknowledged that some significant “operational” issues were being addressed. Not resolved yet.
“Despite the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and our nation’s airlines being safe and fully operational in more than 40 other countries, 5G has not been able to fully resolve navigating around airports,” said Tuesday afternoon According to a Verizon statement issued, the temporary limit in service around some airports was announced.
The brief statement did not specify which regions or airports would be limited from 5G service.
Also on Tuesday, AT&T said that the company had “agreed to temporarily suspend the commissioning of a limited number of towers around certain airport runways as we continue to work with the aviation industry and the FAA.” so as to provide more information about our 5G deployment, as they have not used the two years they have to responsibly plan for this deployment.”
An AT&T spokesperson said in an emailed statement, “We are disappointed by the inability of the FAA, which nearly 40 countries have done, to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we Request you to do it in a timely manner.” “We are launching our advanced 5G services everywhere as planned, with the temporary exception of this limited number of towers.”
Telecom powers and American airlines are waging a high-stakes battle, with one side claiming it is meeting modern technological demands and the other insisting it is protecting the traveling public.
In a letter sent Monday to United States transportation and economic officials, the CEOs of the major carriers said the launch could ground flights And leave the “thousands of Americans” stranded abroad,
This warning came ahead of Wednesday’s rollout of the new C-Band 5G Service From AT&T and Verizon.
It comes even as airlines grapple with its repercussions massive flight cancellations The spread of the Omicron version of COVID-19 and a series of winter storms caused travel chaos across the US
Airlines warned that 5G signals run the risk of interfering with safety equipment pilots rely on to take off and land in bad weather.
In a letter signed by the CEOs of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest, they said, “Until our major hubs are approved to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially will be grounded.” Along with the leaders of airlines and Jet Blue, UPS and FedEx.
“Immediate intervention is required to avoid significant operational disruption to air travelers, shippers, the supply chain and delivery of essential medical supplies,” the letter said.
Without approval, it added: “To be blunt, the country’s commerce will come to a standstill.”
The letter was addressed to National Economic Council Director Brian Dees, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Stephen Dixon and Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel.
fifth generation wireless technology, widely known as 5G, promises to deliver ultra-fast internet speeds, extra bandwidth and increased connectivity, with telcos around the world racing to launch the service.
There is concern that the airwave spectrum used by 5G technology may clash with signals used by radio altimeters, measurement tools that help pilots determine the distance from the ground to the bottom of the aircraft during low-visibility operations. We do.
both companies It was agreed to maintain buffer zones around at least 50 airports. to reduce the possibility of interference. And Wednesday’s rollout already comes after Two weeks delay requested by Transport Department In response to concerns from aviation leaders.
AT&T and Verizon Government’s request rejected in early January, but reversed course and agreed to a two-week delay.
At the time, Buttigieg said negotiations between the FAA, major airlines and wireless carriers were “healthy.”
Airline leaders said they want the service to be rolled out “everywhere in the country except within approximately 2 miles of airport runways at affected airports”.
“This will allow 5G to be deployed to avoid harmful impacts on the aviation industry, on public travel, supply chains, vaccine distribution, our workforce and the wider economy,” he said, suggesting that the 5G rollout Could potentially affect the distribution of covid-19 vaccines.
As 5G service goes live on Wednesday, the FAA has said it will take precautions to prevent pilots from using altimeters when landing at more than 80 airports near 5G sites. Major airports in Dallas, New York, Chicago and Seattle are expected to be affected.
The FAA said it will “continue to ensure that the traveling public is safe as wireless companies deploy 5G.”
“The FAA continues to work with the aviation industry and wireless companies to try to limit 5G-related flight delays and cancellations,” it said in a statement.
on Sunday, It said it has approved an estimated 45 percent By Wednesday the US commercial fleet “to conduct low-visibility landings at several airports where 5G C-band will be deployed”.
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But in a statement shared with NBC News, United Airlines said the federal government’s current 5G rollout plan “will have a devastating impact on aviation.”
The airline said the resulting chaos could potentially negatively affect 1.25 million United passengers.
It said the airlines wanted the US government to formulate policies to safely deploy 5G technology.
The airline said, “We will not compromise on security – full stop. “
“We urge the Biden administration to act quickly and apply the same common sense solutions here that have clearly worked so well around the world,” it said.
American Airlines COO David Seymour echoed similar fears and told employees on Tuesday to be prepared for “major operational disruptions” due to the “unprecedented challenge” of the 5G rollout.
Seymour wrote to employees, “We expect that American, along with all US airlines and many foreign carriers providing service to US destinations, will experience major operational disruptions as this new 5G technology is used by radio altimeters on aircraft.” operates on outgoing frequencies. ,
“Until a long-term technical solution is developed and implemented and while 5G is deployed, we anticipate that we will experience delays, diversions and cancellations that are beyond our control.”