The US airlines, which threatened to sue operators AT&T and Verizon for asking them to delay the launch of 5G technology, announced on Monday night (3) that they had reached an agreement in principle to move implementation to January 19 .
According to air industry representatives, a last-minute draft agreement was obtained with AT&T and then with Verizon, which means a further 15-day delay in the installation of new 5G frequency bands.
In a conversation with AFP, an AT&T spokeswoman confirmed that an agreement was reached with the Department of Transport and that “two more weeks were accepted for the implementation of the service”.
The two carriers “agree not to roll out 5G technology on Jan. 5, that is, on Wednesday, but on Jan. 19,” another airline official said.
On Sunday (2), Verizon and AT&T had rejected a request by the authorities to postpone the start of the 5G network again.
Although airlines claim possible interference in devices on board aircraft, in particular, the entry into service of 5G, initially scheduled for December 5, had already been postponed and should take effect this Wednesday (5).
“No one has signed anything yet, but we are currently processing demand from this two-week period,” an airline representative said.
The companies were preparing to file a lawsuit in court, in order to obtain this postponement and technical modifications in the implementation of the high-speed connection network.
During this “two-week break,” changes made, in particular, to airport facilities, will need to be reviewed by the United States Federal Aviation Regulatory Authority, the FAA, “to ensure that they comply with all safety conditions for flights”.
The 3.7GHz to 3.8GHz frequency bands were awarded to AT&T and Verizon in February, following a billion-dollar offer.
Faced with concerns about possible interference problems with devices that measure altitude on aircraft, the FAA issued new rules limiting the use of these devices on aircraft in certain situations.
US airlines protested the possible costs of enforcing the new provisions and urged authorities to find a solution quickly.
Biden praises the deal
US President Joe Biden welcomed the agreement between mobile operators and US regulators that will allow the deployment of a new 5G technology within two weeks, avoiding an aviation security crisis.
Biden said the deal ensures there will be no disruptions to air operations for the next two weeks “and puts us on track to substantially reduce disruptions to air operations when AT&T and Verizon roll out 5G on Jan. 19.”
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FAA Chief Administrator Steve Dickson told AT&T and Verizon that agencies will not look for further delays in deploying 5G wireless service after Jan. 19 without any “issues” aviation security unforeseen events. “
The agreement “will give us additional time and space to reduce impacts on commercial flights,” they wrote.
The attached “final term of commitment” said, unless “unforeseen aviation safety issues” arise, US agencies “will not seek or require any additional delays in C-band deployment, in whole or in part, including a delay in returning to routine operations.”
(With Reuters)
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