AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. have rejected a recommendation by the US authorities to postpone the launch this week of a new 5G communications network, which, according to airlines, could affect aircraft electronics and pose a security threat, Bloomberg wrote on January 2.
The executives of the two telecom giants said in a joint letter that they are ready to pledge a six-month pause and not deploy the network near certain airports, which will be selected in negotiations with representatives of the authorities and the aviation industry.
Verizon CEO Hans Westberg and John Stancky of AT&T wrote to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttejage and FAA Director Steve Dixon, explaining that the government’s demand is pushing them to take action that will harm millions of users, including representatives of the public sector and business.
In a December 31 letter, authorities asked wireless providers to postpone their January 5 launch as they anticipate possible “widespread and unacceptable disruptions” as planes avoid airports with 5G signals that could affect electronics when landing.
“The US Secretary of Transportation and the head of the FAA have asked AT&T CEO John Stankey and Verizon CEO Hans Westberg to delay commercial rollouts by no more than two weeks,” CNN Business reported.
But businessmen have rejected any broader restrictions on the use of the high-frequency C-band spectrum in which 5G networks operate.
“Your proposed structure requires us to agree to transfer oversight of multi-billion dollar company investments in 50 metropolitan areas, representing the majority of the US population, to the FAA for an indefinite number of months or years. And even worse, this proposal is addressed to only two companies, ”Westberg and Stanki wrote in their response letter.
Company executives said agreeing to the proposal would be “an irresponsible relinquishment of the operational controls required to deploy world-class communications networks and global competition.”
“We are reviewing the latest letter from wireless companies on how to reduce interference from 5G transmissions. US aviation security standards will guide our next steps, ”the US Federal Aviation Administration told CNN.
On December 22, the first industrial 5G testing ground in Russia was opened on the basis of the Botkin Hospital in Moscow. It will allow testing breakthrough digital technologies, for example, healthcare services, for which high speed of collection, processing and transfer of large amounts of data is important.
On July 9, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko said that 5G networks on Russian equipment could appear in cities with a population of one million in the country in three years. The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that the country is working to ensure that during the construction of apartment buildings, they must be connected to the Internet.
On May 25, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that the capital’s authorities are starting a project to introduce 5G technology in the Moscow metro. The mayor added that now there are eight polygons in the city, in which 5G is being tested.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
