Regulators and airlines are focused on a compromise that will allow AT&T and Verizon to light up their mid-range 5G networks. Those vital wireless bands were supposed to be online at the end of last year, but the FAA was concerned that “C-band” frequencies could interfere with aviation. The carriers reluctantly complied with the delays, but now we expect the new network to be up and running later in January. However, it will not be active around 50 airports identified by the FAA as potentially vulnerable to 5G interference.
This disagreement dates back almost two years. The FCC has warned the aviation industry that it will auction off C-band frequencies for cellular network use. These waves are of the order of 4GHz, only a few hundred megahertz from the frequencies reserved for radio altimeters. These devices are an important part of automated landing systems, which can compensate for poor visibility during descent. There were concerns that even with the buffer, older hardware could pick up C-band interference.
So AT&T and Verizon were unable to open the new C-band frequencies in December, and the FAA got another delay earlier this month. The wait is only supposed to be two weeks, which gave the FAA time to determine which airports needed special C-band protection. Now we have a list of 50 airports including JFK of New York, Miami International and Chicago Midway.
A 5G millimeter wave cell site on a light pole in Minneapolis.
AT&T and Verizon have agreed to turn off transmitters and make other adjustments around those airports. These 5G buffers will be active for six months, at which point operators and regulators can reassess. The FAA says it chose these airports for a variety of reasons, including the number of low visibility days per year and the equipment used at each airport. In some cases, airports are outside the markets offered by carriers for the C band, and others do not have the equipment to allow low visibility landings.
Verizon announces that it will activate the C-band network on January 19 with coverage of more than 100 million people. AT&T has yet to announce a new date, but it will likely be around the same time. Operators are eager to get started as they are sorely lacking in 5G spectrum – the C band has a mix of range and speed that makes it ideal for 5G. Meanwhile, T-Mobile has absorbed Sprint and now sits on top of a bunch of midband specter like a 5G dragon.
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