1/18/22 - Airlines To Launch 5G Wireless Service

Airline flights could be impact as the airline industry rolls out a new 5G wireless service this week.

(AP) - The airline industry plans to launch new 5G wireless service and warns that  thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports.

Interference from the wireless service on a key instrument on planes could be worse than they originally thought.

AT&T and Verizon plan to activate their new 5G wireless service Wednesday after two previous delays from the original plan.

The new high-speed 5G service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by altimeters.

AT&T and Verizon say their equipment will not interfere with aircraft electronics, and that the technology is being safely used in many other countries.

The CEOs of 10 passenger and cargo airlines including American, Delta, United and Southwest said 5G will be more disruptive than they originally thought because dozens of large airports that were to have buffer zones to prevent 5G interference with aircraft will still be subject to flight restrictions announced last week by the FAA, and because those restrictions won’t be limited to times when visibility is poor.