Risk of operational safety disruption in air travel.
5G service is going to be launched in the United States on January 5. The service is being launched by AT&T and Verizon, the country's cellphone network operators. However, the world's two largest aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus are bent on this. The two companies' chief executive (CEO) has sought the help of Biden's Transportation Secretary Pete Butigieg to delay the launch of 5G services in the country. They also recently sent a letter to Pete Boutigieg.
In a letter to Pete Butigieg, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun and Airbus America CEO Jeffrey Knittel requested that the launch of 5G in the United States be postponed, Reuters reported.
The letter said the 5G network could disrupt the aircraft's safe operation, which could have a negative impact on the entire aviation sector.
AT&T and Verizon's C-band 5G were scheduled to launch in November this year. However, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has expressed concern over the safety of the aircraft. At the time, the FAA said the launch of the 5G network could disrupt the aircraft's altimeter (altimeter) readings.
A Boeing spokeswoman told Business News Insider that the aviation industry was now evaluating how and to what extent the 5G network could be disrupted by radio altimeters. In this regard, we are talking to the aviation authorities, government leaders, airlines and various stakeholders to ensure operational safety in the field of aircraft operations around the world.
According to another US media report, the FAA this month issued a detailed guideline outlining the potential impact of the 5G network on landing equipment used in bad weather.
Business Insider contacted AT&T and Verizon for comment. However, no response was received from the two organizations.
Earlier, a spokesman for the telecom industry said the concerns raised about the potential impact of the 5G network on aircraft safety were nothing short of exaggerated.