(CNN Business) The nation’s largest mobile phone company says it won’t further delay the rollout of 5G wireless service near airports, a key move this week that could cause widespread flight delays and diversions in the United States. Tensions between transport authorities and the telecommunications industry are gradually escalating as the deadline approaches.
In a letter seen by CNN on Sunday, the CEOs of Verizon and AT&T (which owns CNN’s parent company, WarnerMedia) issued warnings for their 5G antennas similar to those used near French airports. It proposed that the restrictions be in place for six months. But it rejected requests from the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to push back the start date for 5G service on a critical set of radio frequencies, known as the C-band, to Jan. 5.
“The core of your proposed framework is to transfer oversight of our multibillion-dollar investments in 50 unnamed metropolitan areas that represent the majority of the U.S. population to the FAA for an undetermined number of months or years. We ask that you agree,” the companies wrote. “Agreing to your proposal would not only be an unprecedented and unwarranted circumvention of the carefully crafted due process and checks and balances within the fabric of our democracy, but also a world-class and world-class It would be an irresponsible abdication of the operational control necessary to develop a competitive communications network.” ”
The carrier had previously postponed the start date from December 5, 2021 to January 5, 2022.
Transportation officials and the aviation industry have expressed concern about the impact 5G communications could have on radar altimeters, aircraft equipment that relies on radio signals to tell pilots their distance from the ground.
In December, the FAA plans to ban the use of radar altimeters in low-visibility conditions around airports where 5G antennas are installed, citing potential interference that could disrupt landings in some situations. issued an emergency warning. The agency did not say at the time which airports would be affected by the rule, but estimated that the restriction could affect thousands of aircraft and could result in massive disruption for air travelers. warned that this could occur. Airlines industry groups echoed those warnings of the impending crisis, saying hundreds of thousands of flights and tens of millions of passengers could be diverted or delayed.
“Without appropriate mitigation measures, 5G near airports could disrupt up to 345,000 passenger flights in addition to 5,400 cargo flights each year through delays, diversions, or cancellations. “This could impact 32 million travelers,” said Carter Yang, a ministry spokesperson. Airlines for America is a trade association representing U.S. passenger and cargo airlines. “We continue to urge the FCC and the telecommunications industry to work with the FAA and the aviation industry on practical solutions that enable the deployment of 5G technology while prioritizing safety and avoiding disruption to aviation systems. .”
However, after several years of research, the Federal Communications Commission, which oversees the use of radio waves in the United States, has determined that the frequencies used in radar altimeter are more than 20 minutes away from those used in 5G, making them susceptible to interference. They concluded that there was little risk. 200 MHz blank “guard band” spectrum. The airline industry and the FAA also participated in the FCC’s review process, which ultimately led to the approval of 5G in the C-band in 2020.
The telecommunications industry group said 5G on C-band frequencies has already been deployed around the world and no incidents related to 5G and aircraft have been reported anywhere.
“The laws of physics are the same in the United States and France,” AT&T and Verizon wrote Sunday. “If U.S. airlines are allowed to fly daily in France, they should be able to fly in the U.S. under the same operating conditions.”
The FAA and DOT did not respond to requests for comment.
