Telcos Verizon and AT&T have once again delayed deploying the 5G technology near airports after a massive backlash from US airlines. On Tuesday, for the third time, both telcos agreed to hold off rolling out 5G within two miles of airports.

Last-minute pause despite telcos saying 5G is safe around airports

Having spent billions acquiring the licenses to use the frequencies, 5G cell phone networks were due to start rolling out across the US on Wednesday. Causing contention was the use of the C-band frequencies near airports where aircraft use nearby frequencies to aid instrument landings.

While both Verizon and AT&T insisted the 5G technology was safe. Verizon noted the technology safely coexisted with the airline industry in over three dozen other countries. But US airlines, lobby groups, and the FAA remained unconvinced. Recent FAA NOTAMs related to the rollout threatened to cause chaos across the airline industry,

"Not enough is known about the way 5G airwaves could potentially interfere with radio altimeter airwaves, and for that reason, the FAA has placed a number of operating restrictions on aircraft, including how and when we can fly into certain airports, particularly in inclement weather," said American Airlines Chief Operating Officer David Syemour in a letter to employees on Tuesday, and shared by Henry Harteveldt on Twitter. "We anticipate we'll experience delays, diversions, and cancelations that are well beyond our control."

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Thousands of flights have been canceled and delayed along the east coast this week. Photo: Miami Dade Aviation Department

Airlines for American weighs in on 5G

On Monday, industry lobby group Airlines for America sent a letter to four Washington powerbrokers, including the heads of the FAA, the Federal Communications Commission, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. The CEOs of 10 major US passenger and cargo airlines co-signed the letter.

The letter warned of significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, and supply chains. Last week's FAA NOTAMs had banned commonly used aircraft from deploying auto-landings and radio-altimeter-based automated flight maneuvers at key airports across the US.

The FAA revised the list on Monday and cleared two radio altimeter models used in many Boeing and Airbus passenger aircraft. However, more than half the commercial passenger jets flying in the US are not utilizing those radio altimeter models, including Boeing 777s and 787s.

"Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be grounded," reads the letter. "This means that on a day like yesterday (Sunday), more than 1,100 flights and 100,000 passengers would be subjected to cancellations, diversions or delays."

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Verizon is most impacted by the decision not to run on 5G antennas located close to airports. Photo: Verizon

White House & airline industry thank telcos for 5G pause

On Tuesday, the telcos bowed to the pressure from the White House and airlines. Both Verizon and AT&T said they would not put 5G antennas near airports, meaning around 500 antennas already constructed near airports would stay offline. According to Reuters, the vast majority of impacted antennas belong to Verizon.

"We have voluntarily agreed to temporarily defer turning on a limited number of towers around certain airport runways as we continue to work with the aviation industry and the FAA to provide further information about our 5G deployment, since they have not utilized the two years they’ve had to responsibly plan for this deployment,” AT&T said in a statement.

"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and our nation’s airlines have not been able to fully resolve navigating 5G around airports, despite it being safe and fully operational in more than 40 other countries." Verizon's statement reads.

In a statement, US President Jo Biden thanked the telcos for agreeing to delay rolling out the controversial 5G technology near airports.

"This agreement will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery while allowing more than 90% of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled," said President Biden.

"This agreement protects flight safety and allows aviation operations to continue without significant disruption and will bring more high-speed internet options to millions of Americans."

Airlines for America also expressed its thanks to Verizon and AT&T for the last-minute delay, saying the decision helped ensure the continuation of air services for the traveling and shipping public, avert disruption to the National Airspace System (NAS) and provide time to implement mitigations.