5G Mobile Networks might be in Catastrophic Situation in the US after the Disruption of Planes

Airline executives warn that any involvement with flights might produce a “catastrophic” situation.

What’s the Fuss?

5G telephone networks may interfere with radio altimeters on certain airplanes, according to the US Federal Aviation Administration. These are essential for low-altitude landings and landings in poor visibility. Nonetheless, the FCC has approved the deployment of these networks, including phone towers near airports. The radio spectrum is a scarce public resource in the US. As a result, industries fight hard to get their share. This is because the frequency section designated for critical airplane operations is quite near to the US 5G spectrum.

What is 5G?

The 5th generation of mobile phone technology. 5G, like 4G, is a cellular technology. A nation is split into cells, each including a phone mast. Phones and tablets use radio waves to connect to the phone network and the internet. 5G does not occupy a single frequency band. Some nations use 600–900 MHz, which is equivalent to 4G. Some say it’s between 2.3 and 4.7 GHz, which helps data speed. Others use 24 to 47 gigahertz, which needs more towers but gives faster service. A network often uses a combination of these. The frequencies assigned for 5G in the US are closer to those used by airplanes than in the EU. The US has set aside a spectrum section up to the lower band for 5G. A similar band in the UK is 4 GHz and in the EU is 3.8 GHz.

Who Controls each Frequency?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) oversees the radio spectrum in the US. The government set aside considerable portions of the spectrum for 5G in July 2016. The issue is that the FAA considers this is near enough to the airplane spectrum to pose issues. In November, it warned airlines that “interference from 5G transmitters and other technologies might cause some safety equipment to fail, forcing them to take mitigation actions that could disrupt flight operations”. Tight coordination across departments and countries has reduced this risk in some nations — initial 2021 warnings from the French Civil Aviation Authority. Phone towers near airports in France and Canada were then power restricted. A spokesperson for the European Aviation Safety Agency said the agency has been working with aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and state spectrum regulators to minimize difficulties.

Have Mobile Phones ever created Issues?

Many governments have banned cell phone use on flights owing to interference concerns. They were gradually removed as technology advanced, and use was proven safe. 5G networks raise new problems. According to George Holmes of Resonant Inc., which develops safety equipment to prevent radio interference in airplanes while doing android to iphone transfer, the EU has a better network design than the US. “We’re dealing with highly unlikely outcomes,” he remarked.

In a 2020 assessment, the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics determined that the danger is “widespread and has the potential for extensive consequences on aircraft operations in the United States, including catastrophic failures leading to many fatalities.” An airline will apply limits if it perceives even a little danger. Although legitimate concerns exist, former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler writes for the Brookings Institution that the agency is “constantly being called upon to play referee between diverse users of the spectrum” and that purported “interference” may be used to obtain a competitive advantage.

What Now?

The US’s two main cellular networks, AT&T and Verizon, were set to go live on 5G on January 19 after being postponed twice owing to safety concerns. According to the BBC, AT&T has postponed again. Small buffer zones surrounding large airports have been negotiated. However, many airports are outside of them. The FAA has approved roughly 45 percent of US commercial flights to fly in bad weather to 5G-enabled airports. More permits are needed before the network goes live. However, it has recently issued over 1450 formal alerts warning pilots not to fly near known risks, such as new 5G towers.

Some airlines’ bosses have written to the US government to warn that these limitations may cause mass flight cancellations. The letter reads that this will bring the nation’s business to a stop. Time will tell how the issue is handled, but the telecom and airline industries are too lucrative not to find a solution fast. For example, existing altimeters may be deemed safe, or new ones may be developed to withstand 5G interference.