AT&T, Verizon decide to postpone C-band 5G expansion over FAA concerns

Verizon and AT&T have recently decided to delay its 5G network rollout as requested by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Instead of rolling out its C-band frequencies on December 5th, the two wireless carriers have postponed the rollout to at least January 5th. 

This decision comes after the FAA warned how the new wireless technology could cause interference with some safety systems of certain aircrafts. The FAA spoke with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last August on how the C-band 5G rollout could cause “major disruptions to use of the National Airspace System.”

In its “special information bulletin,” the FAA shared potential interference issues with some safety equipment since these relies on radio altimeters. Although there hasn’t been any documented incident of this “harmful interference,” the FAA has warned aircraft operators to “be prepared for the possibility that interference from 5G transmitters and other technology could cause certain safety equipment to malfunction, requiring them to take mitigating action that could affect flight operations.”

In line with the bulletin, AT&T announced that it will be postponing the launch by at least a month. They are also in talks with the FAA and FCC to understand the concerns better. 

While the C-band frequency has not yet rolled out, the two carriers will continue to offer ultra-fast 5G connectivity using high-band mm-wave technology and low-band frequencies. 

Source: The Verge