5G is the new 4G and airlines, like Emirates, are NOT happy about it. It isn’t necessarily a new fad, but this Wednesday American mobile carriers AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ) turned on their C-band networks, meant to take 5G and the internet to an entirely new level. The radio frequencies, however, sit near the band of frequencies used by airplane radar altimeters that help pilots monitor the aircraft for landing.
The aviation frequencies indicate to pilots how high planes are from the ground — which is important to ensure safe landing during low-viability days (like the ones the East Coast is experiencing these days with all that snow and rain).
Following the C-band technology rollout, airlines are worried over aircraft safety measures and the estimated 100 flight disruptions that would take place daily. The aviation industry, transportation regulators, and telecom giants have yet to come to an agreement and a lot is still unclear.
Why it matters
Major airlines such as Emirates, Air India, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa, and British Airways have cited changes to flights to the US, whether switching aircrafts or completely suspending some flights. In response, the US government has pushed AT&T and Verizon to come to an agreement to delay their 5G rollout in major airports until a solution balancing 5G deployment and safe flights is found.
