United Airlines warns 5G plan would impact 1.25 mln passengers a year
- In Reports
- 06:19 PM, Jan 18, 2022
- Myind Staff
United Airlines on Monday said that the current U.S. 5G wireless rollout plan would negatively impact an estimated 1.25 million United passengers and at least 15,000 flights annually. It also urged President Joe Biden's administration to take action.
U.S. airlines warn 5G interference could compromise key safety systems and result in suspended passenger and cargo flights. They want some 5G deployment set for Wednesday delayed around key U.S. airports.
The current rules "will result in significant restrictions on 787s, 777s, 737s and regional aircraft in major cities like Houston, Newark, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago,” United said as quoted by Reuters.
Earlier, telecom providers AT&T and Verizon have backed down in a fight with the Federal Aviation Authority and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg over the rollout of their 5G networks, which means that the rollout of 5G in the US will be delayed until at least January 19.
This isn't the first time the companies have delayed their 5G rollouts. AT&T and Verizon were originally scheduled to bring their 5G networks online in November 2021 but the date was pushed back to January 5 after the FAA raised concerns that the new frequencies could interfere with safety equipment on aircraft.
In October 2021, the White House and Defense Department announced a plan to accelerate the 5G process by making a crucial new chunk of spectrum available to the wireless industry.
The spectrum, which telecom companies will share with the Pentagon, aims to help wireless carriers offer 5G more broadly across the US. It also should generate billions of dollars for the US Treasury when auctioned off.
The frequency is currently being used for high-power defense radar, but the DoD has determined that it can be freed up without affecting military systems.
Image credit: Reuters
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