Comment on Verizon and AT&T Are Rolling Out New 5G Networks—But Not Near Major Airports. Here’s Why

Verizon and AT&T Are Rolling Out New 5G Networks—But Not Near Major Airports. Here’s Why

AT&T and Verizon will postpone new wireless service near some airports planned for this week after the nation’s largest airlines said the service would interfere with aircraft technology and cause massive flight disruptions. The companies said Tuesday they would delay turning on new cell towers around runways at some airports — they did not say how many — and work with federal regulators to settle a dispute over potential interference from new 5G service. The decision came after the airline industry raised the stakes in a showdown with AT&T and Verizon over plans to launch new 5G wireless service this week, warning that thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] CTIA, a trade group for the telecom industry, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On Monday, CEOs of the nation’s largest airlines said that interference from the wireless service will be worse than they originally thought. “To be blunt, the nation’s commerce will grind to a halt” unless the service is blocked near major airports, the CEOs said in a letter Monday to federal officials including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has previously taken the airlines’ side in the matter. The airlines asked that the new, faster mobile service be banned within two miles of runways. AT&T and Verizon planned to activate their new 5G wireless service Wednesday after two previous delays from the original plan for an early December rollout. The new high-speed 5G service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground.

 

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