AT&T, Verizon delay 5G rollout after airlines’ outcry

• The Biden administration said it is in talks with airlines, telecom companies and federal agencies regarding the rollout of 5G service

• AT&T and Verizon were scheduled to begin the 5G rollout on Wednesday

AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) and Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ) on Tuesday announced to delay deployment of 5G service at towers near some U.S. airports after several airlines raised the issue that flights will be severely impacted due to 5G.

The announcement comes after the Biden administration said it is in talks with airlines, telecom companies and federal agencies regarding the rollout of 5G service.

“The administration is actively engaged with the FAA, FCC, wireless carriers, airlines, and aviation equipment manufacturers to reach a solution that maximizes 5G deployment while protecting air safety and minimizing disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery,” said a White House official.

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The telecom companies, AT&T and Verizon were scheduled to begin the 5G rollout on Wednesday.

“At our sole discretion 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 company said it was “frustrated by the FAA’s inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it do so in a timely manner. We are launching our advanced 5G services everywhere else as planned with the temporary exception of this limited number of towers.”

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The FAA had warned that the interference from 5G could impact low-visibility operations as it could affect airplane instruments such as altimeters.

Verizon said, “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.”

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