Says Air Travel Disruptions Will Be Reduced With Postponed 5G Activation

AT&T and Verizon have agreed to a 2-week pause before activating their new section of the C-band for 5G service, pushing their activation date from January 5 to the 19th. Also in the works are plans to limit output of certain transmitters in the vicinity of "priority" airports for 6 months while the effects are monitored.

Network activation has been delayed multiple times, to the chagrin of speed-hungry technorati throughout the country. The introduction of 5G will bring a much-desired speed increase for consumers streaming high density data applications like video conferencing, high-def content streaming, or low-latency gaming. The imposition of airline travel's needs upon metropolitan internet access as a whole has begun to chafe those deeply embedded in consumer electronics. The dispute between the FAA and the 2 largest cell providers in the US had the potential to cause some expensive legal wrangling, had they not acquiesced to some of the agency's demands. 

President Biden reminded voters that the delays are essential to maintain the safety of air operations, and the consequences had providers not voluntarily complied. “This agreement ensures that there will be no disruptions to air operations over the next two weeks and puts us on track to substantially reduce disruptions to air operations when AT&T and Verizon launch 5G on January 19th,” Biden said in a statement. 

Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg says the move is a win for all involved. “We felt that it was the right thing to do for the flying public, which includes our customers and all of us, to give the FAA a little time to work out its issues with the aviation community and therefore avoid further inconveniencing passengers with additional flight delays." 

FMI: www.whitehouse.gov