5G deployment near US airports slowed for now
5G deployments are proceeding around the country, albeit more slowly, after a partial agreement between the FCC and the FAA about the potential danger of 5G transmissions generated too strong and too close to airports on bandwidths adjacent to the spectrum used by airplane altimeters.President Biden announced that Verizon and AT&T had agreed to slow deployments of 5G around major airports after consultation with the Department of Transportation, in order to assuage concerns over air travel safety.What is 5G? At issue is potential interference between newly opened 5G spectrum in the 3.7GHz range and radioaltimeter equipment on older aircraft. While there’s some separation between the 3.7GHz 5G signals, which top out at 3.98GHz, and the bottom of the 4.2GHz range used by the avionics equipment, the FAA and the airline industry remain concerned over potential interference that, theoretically, could prevent affected aircraft from landing safely in low-visibility conditions.To read this article in full, please click here


