The US Aviation And Telecommunications Industries Agree To Discuss 5G In-depth

5G technology is considered to be able to interfere with aircraft radio altimeters. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA - The aviation and telecommunications industries in the US said on Wednesday, December 22, that they were making progress to address air security concerns arising from potential disruption due to 5G wireless deployments, which are set to take effect on January 5.

CTIA's wireless trading group Airlines for America and the Aerospace Industries Association said in a joint statement "after productive discussions, we will work together to share available data from all parties to identify specific areas of concern to airlines."

Last week, airlines said disruption from 5G networks could cause 4% of US flights to be diverted, delayed or cancelled.

"The best technical experts from both industries will work collectively to identify a way forward, in coordination" with the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the statement said.

"By working collaboratively in good faith on data-driven solutions, we can achieve our common goal of deploying 5G while maintaining aviation safety," the group added.

AT&T and Verizon Communications are moving ahead with plans to deploy C-Band 5G wireless spectrum in about two weeks which they won in a $80 billion auction.

Both the aviation industry and the FAA have raised concerns about the potential for 5G interference with sensitive aircraft electronics such as radio altimeters.

The FAA said it was encouraged that aviation manufacturers and wireless companies "take steps to test how dozens of radio altimeters will perform in the high-powered 5G environment envisioned for the United States."

He added the talks would work "to ensure the tests provide an adequate margin of safety and take into account the various safety systems that rely on accurate information from radio altimeters."

The FAA this month issued an airworthiness directive warning 5G disruption could result in flight diversions.

Hoping to avoid deployment issues, the group has held talks to share data at US airports, including base station locations, power levels and antenna positions, as well as altimeter data, which could potentially be impacted.

On Monday, Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun and Airbus Americas CEO Jeffrey Knittel urged the administration of US President Joe Biden to delay the deployment of 5G.

Airlines for America said that if the FAA 5G directive took effect in 2019, some 345.000 passenger flights and 5.400 cargo flights would face delays, diversions, or cancellations.

In November, AT&T and Verizon delayed the commercial rollout of C-band wireless services by one month until January 5 and adopted precautions to limit interference.

The aviation industry group said it wasn't enough. The aviation industry made a counter-proposal that would limit cellular transmission around airports and other critical areas.

In contrast, wireless industry group CTIA says 5G is secure and its spectrum is used in about 40 other countries. He previously accused the airline industry of spreading fear and distorting facts.