Cellphone Carriers Agree to Delay of 5G Rollout

Tuesday, January 04, 2022 at 01:23 PM ET

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Members of the aviation industry have expressed concern that 5G may interfere with radio altimeters of aircraft on approach to certain airports. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

AT&T and Verizon have agreed to delay their 5G service rollout by two weeks, until January 19, after initially declining a request from U.S. transportation officials.
The delay addresses concerns from the aviation industry, including Airlines for America and the FAA, that 5G's C-band spectrum may interfere with aircraft radio altimeters and pose flight safety risks near airports.
This two-week period will allow the FAA to identify critical airports, issue necessary safety notices, and develop compliance methods to prevent potential disruptions to air travel and cargo operations.

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Less than 24 hours after declining a request by U.S. transportation officials to delay the roll out of new 5G service by two weeks, AT&T and Verizon Communications have backtracked and have agreed to delay the release by two weeks to January 19.

According to Business Travel News, on December 30, the trade association Airlines for America filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to stop the deployment of 5G wireless service near U.S. airports until it can be determined that 5G does not present a safety issue to air carrier operations. The association represents both passenger and cargo operations.