The Federal Aviation Administration has released a list of airports that will be surrounded by temporary buffer zones that will prohibit new 5G coverage that will begin later in January for a six-month period.
On Jan. 19, both AT&T and Verizon aim to launch their new 5G C-band service, but it won't be available everywhere. According to Reuters, the FAA just revealed a list of 50 US airports where 5G service will be prohibited starting on that day. These airports will have mandated buffer zones around them, the news outlet said, to prevent the service from being used.
Some of the main international hubs in the United States are included on the list, including John F. Kennedy International in New York City, Los Angeles International, and Chicago's O'Hare International.
Wireless companies have committed to switch off transmitters and make other adjustments near airports on the list for six months "to minimize potential 5G interference with sensitive aircraft equipment used in low-visibility landings," FAA statements said.
"The FAA continues to work with the aerospace manufacturers and wireless companies to make sure 5G is safely deployed and to limit the risk of flight disruptions at all airports," a portion of the statement read.
Due to worries about interference with devices that pilots rely on, airlines in the U.S. urged the Federal Communications Commission to postpone a scheduled rollout of new 5G services until late 2021.
Airlines for America, a trade association representing large U.S. passenger and cargo carriers, warned at the time that the 5G rollout near major airports would cause substantial damage.
According to the group, its 11 member airlines will have to reroute or cancel "thousands" of flights, resulting in losses of $1 billion. The group said it has reported the issue before, but was paid little attention by the FCC.
Wireless companies will turn off transmitters and make other adjustments to C-band 5G signal in the 3.7-3.98GHz frequency surrounding airports in these buffer zones for six months after C-band goes online. This will prevent them from interfering with aircraft equipment operating at frequencies 4.2-4.4GHz.
Radio altimeters, for example, provide accurate height readings to aircraft systems such as navigation and collision avoidance. The FAA and the aviation industry have expressed worry that the C-band signal will interfere with readings used by airplanes while landing at airports during inclement weather and limited visibility.
FAA officials said they are working with airlines and manufacturers to determine how radar altimeters will perform in the new environment.
