French Airports May Offer Ideas to Fix the 5G Mess

As aviation struggles with wireless companies over 5G, here’s how other countries handle it.

Thom Patterson

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 03:39 PM ET

Verified

France requires more robust restrictions on 5G infrastructure near airports. [Photo: FLYING]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. aviation industry and wireless carriers are engaged in a dispute over the potential for 5G C-band service to interfere with aircraft radio altimeters, raising safety concerns for flights and low-visibility landings.
Despite initial delays and the establishment of temporary buffer zones around 50 airports by AT&T and Verizon, the FAA still anticipates impacts, and some international flights to the U.S. were disrupted.
Wireless carriers argue 5G has been safely deployed globally, but the FAA highlights key differences in other countries' regulations regarding power levels, antenna placement, frequency proximity, and buffer zone sizes.
Experts and organizations remain divided on the scientific evidence of 5G interference with aircraft altimeters, prompting ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to find a permanent solution.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The messy struggle between the U.S. aviation industry and wireless giants AT&T (NYSE:T) and Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) on how to deploy 5G cellphone service on newly available frequencies continues to create fallout and questions.

Some of the questions surround AT&T’s contention that other countries have safely deployed 5G wireless service around airports without disrupting aviation.