Why are airlines opposing How and why 5G network is becoming fatal for aircraft in USA
Airlines are majorly highlighting their safety concerns associated with 5G rollout.
Aviation industry groups have raised concerns about possible interference with airplanes’ radio altimeters — which can operate at the same frequencies — particularly in bad weather.
Altimeters operate in the 4.2-4.4 GHz range. This is very close to the 3.7-3.98 GHz range that US auctioned to its mobile companies in early 2021. The spectrum is known as C band and it was auctioned for about $80 billion. How and why 5G network is becoming fatal for aircraft in USA
The issue is said to particularly impact Boeing 777 aircraft. The long-range wide bodied aircraft is used by many carriers worldwide, especially Emirates which only flies this model.
US airlines have warned the directives could disrupt up to 4 per cent of daily flights.
Affected airlines
Several airlines have already decided to reschedule their flights to the US, some have cancelled them, while some airlines are opting for different model of aircraft.
Emirates, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines and Lufthansa have announced plans to switch away from Beoing 777 and Boeing 747-8 aircraft.
Is the issue specific only to the US?
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which oversees 31 states, said on December 17 the issue was specific to US airspace. “At this stage, no risk of unsafe interference has been identified in Europe,” it had said.
In 2019, the EU had set standards for mid-range 5G frequencies in a 3.4-3.8 GHz range, a lower frequency than the service set to be rolled out in the US.
The bandwidth has been auctioned in Europe and is in use in many of the bloc’s 27 member states so far without issue.
FAA officials have noted the spectrum used by France (3.6-3.8 GHz) sits further away from the spectrum (4.2-4.4 GHz) used for altimeters in the United States and France’s power level for 5G is much lower than what is authorised in the United States.
In South Korea, the 5G mobile communication frequency is 3.42-3.7 GHz band and there has been no report of interference with radio wave since commercialization of 5G in April 2019.
“Wireless carriers in nearly 40 countries throughout Europe and Asia now use the C band for 5G, with no reported effects on radio altimeters that operate in the same internationally designated 4.2-4.4 GHz band,” CTIA, a US wireless trade group, said in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission.
Is the issue specific only to the US?
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which oversees 31 states, said on December 17 the issue was specific to US airspace. “At this stage, no risk of unsafe interference has been identified in Europe,” it had said.
In 2019, the EU had set standards for mid-range 5G frequencies in a 3.4-3.8 GHz range, a lower frequency than the service set to be rolled out in the US.
The bandwidth has been auctioned in Europe and is in use in many of the bloc’s 27 member states so far without issue.How and why 5G network is becoming fatal for aircraft in USA
FAA officials have noted the spectrum used by France (3.6-3.8 GHz) sits further away from the spectrum (4.2-4.4 GHz) used for altimeters in the United States and France’s power level for 5G is much lower than what is authorised in the United States.
In South Korea, the 5G mobile communication frequency is 3.42-3.7 GHz band and there has been no report of interference with radio wave since commercialization of 5G in April 2019.
“Wireless carriers in nearly 40 countries throughout Europe and Asia now use the C band for 5G, with no reported effects on radio altimeters that operate in the same internationally designated 4.2-4.4 GHz band,” CTIA, a US wireless trade group, said in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission.
Indian Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla has moved the Delhi High Court in the 5G wireless network case. The actress has challenged the decision of the single bench in the double bench, claiming the ill-effects of radiation on humans, animals and plants from this network. In the court, this petition of the actress was termed as a publicity stunt. While its effect can be in the aircraft, it is a matter to think that how much effect will be in the bird because the birds also move with the waves.
