AT&T, Verizon offer to limit 5G power over aircraft safety concerns
In a rare step to avoid potential conflicts with federal flight administration, AT & T and Verizon said they would limit the power output of their 5G cell towers for a period of six months while the agency investigated the effect of the C-band spectrum on system security. According to the Wall Street Journal, the operator bid on Wednesday in the letter they sent to the federal communication commission.
“While we are still convinced that 5G does not argue for air safety, we are also sensitive to the desire of federal aviation administration for additional analysis of this problem,” AT & T and Verizon wrote. If the FAA accepts a proposal, the limit will be extended until July 6. AT & T and Verizon told the FCC they did not expect the limit to influence their services.
In early November, the two companies agreed to delay the launch of their C-band a month until January 2022. Officials with FAA worried about using a widespread C-band spectrum could interfere with altimeter equipment on several aircraft. Pilots often rely on those tools when they need to land, especially when the visibility conditions are not profitable.
Both AT & T and Verizon have strong financial incentives to avoid further delays to the launch of their C-band. Both operators spend a combined $ 68.8 billion to secure the license needed for their buildouts of Mid-band and an additional $ 15 billion on the infrastructure needed to utilize the spectrum.
