US authorities have asked telephone operators AT&T and Verizon for a new deadline of two weeks maximum to deploy their new 5G frequency bands, following concerns regarding possible interference with aircraft onboard devices.
Commissioning, initially scheduled for December 5, had already been postponed and was due to take place on January 5. But European aircraft manufacturers Airbus and American Boeing recently expressed “concern” regarding possible 5G interference with aircraft radio altimeters.
The US Minister of Transport, Pete Buttigieg, and the boss of the US aviation regulator (FAA), Steve Dickson, have therefore proposed this new commissioning deadline, in a letter sent Friday to AT&T and Verizon, two of the main telephone operators in the country.
They thus ask them “to continue to suspend the introduction of the C-Band commercial service for a short additional period, not exceeding two weeks beyond the current date of deployment scheduled for January 5”.
They assure that the service will be able to start “as planned in January, with certain exceptions around priority airports”, and say they want “to find a solution which will give the assurance that the C-band 5G and aviation will coexist in complete safety in the United States. United”.
“We received the letter from the government following 6:00 p.m. on New Years Eve. We are reviewing it,” said Rich Young, spokesperson for Verizon, in an email to AFP.
AT&T also indicated that it has received the letter and is reviewing it.
The 3.7-3.8 GHz frequency bands were awarded to AT&T and Verizon in February following a bid for tens of billions of dollars.
They had, however, agreed in early November to postpone the launch to January, amid concerns from the FAA regarding potential interference problems with devices measuring altitude in airplanes, and had requested additional information on these instruments, which work. on frequency bands that can be used for 5G.
The FAA has also issued new guidelines restricting the use of these aircraft in certain situations. American airlines have expressed their concern over the potential costs incurred, and called on the authorities to quickly find a solution.
In a joint letter sent at the end of November to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which oversees the deployment of 5G in the country, AT&T and Verizon had explained that they wanted to proceed with this deployment in January, but take measures until July 2022. precautionary measures in addition to those already provided for by law, while the FAA carries out its analyzes.
.