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Tag: Verizon

  • Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband Now Covers 200 Million

    Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband Now Covers 200 Million

    Verizon announced that it now covers 200 million people with its fastest 5G Ultra Wideband.

    Verizon uses the “5G Ultra Wideband” label to describe its mid and high-band 5G. High-band is the fastest flavor, but has very limited range. Mid-band, on the other hand, offers excellent range and speeds far in excess of 4G and most broadband, .

    Verizon has been working to roll out its midband 5G after spending billions buying spectrum at FCC auctions. The company just crossed a major milestone, now covering 200 million people with 5G Ultra Wideband.

    “Passing this new milestone provides more customers in more places with Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband mobile capabilities and fixed broadband,” said Joe Russo, EVP and President, Global Networks and Technology for Verizon. “For years we have been building the most reliable multi-purpose 5G network. In addition to mobility service, this expansion allows us to be aggressive insurgents in home and business broadband internet markets across the nation, offering customers choice and superior services.”

    In addition to its phone service, the company is also using its 5G Ultra Wideband to help power its Home Internet service.

    Verizon Home Internet is reliable and fast enough to power the connected devices in the home: smart TVs, tablets, phones, gaming consoles and more. With 5G service now in more communities with no required wires running to the home, customers have a choice in their home broadband service provider, giving residential customers the broadband speeds they need with the reliability from Verizon they have come to expect.

    Verizon may have started out behind T-Mobile in the 5G race, but the company is quickly catching up.

  • Verizon Reportedly Suffered a Breach Exposing 7.5M+ Customer Records

    Verizon Reportedly Suffered a Breach Exposing 7.5M+ Customer Records

    Verizon is the largest US carrier, but it appears to have joined T-Mobile in the ranks of those recently suffering a data breach.

    According to the SafetyDetectives cybersecurity team, a database containing 7.5 to 9 million Verizon customer records has been been uploaded to an online forum. The records include data for both cellular and home internet customers.

    According to SafetyDetectives, the data does not appear to be particularly sensitive, although it is recent, with the forum post claiming the data was “stolen by hackers” in January 2023.

    Our researcher believes that the leaked database contains data stored by Verizon prior to January 2022. SafetyDetectives has reached this conclusion concerning the timeframe due to clues hidden in the filenames contained in the records. However, we cannot be conclusive with these indicators alone.

    Overall, the breach does not appear to be cause for much direct concern, although the data could be cross-referenced with other breaches to build a more complete profile of impacted users.

    While the information contained in the records does not appear to be highly sensitive or to contain Personal Identifiable Information (PII) – such as full names or physical addresses – some of the data points could be merged with other leaks. For example, if combined with an existing PII leak, an attacker could have a higher chance of success in impersonating a customer.

  • Visible Will Cover Customers’ Phone Bills if They Are Laid Off

    Visible Will Cover Customers’ Phone Bills if They Are Laid Off

    Visible is taking customer service to an all-new high, offering to cover customers’ phone bills if they are laid off.

    Visible is a Verizon-owned wireless carrier, focusing on an all-digital experience with unlimited plans. The company’s goal is to simplify wireless and offer premium services at a much lower price than traditional carriers.

    Visible is taking it a step further, however, offering to help out customers who have lost their job amid the recent economic downturn. The program is called Connection Protection and is a partnership between Visible and Empower Work.

    Through the program, Visible, the Verizon-owned all-digital wireless carrier, will help people stay connected by providing three months of cell phone service to those experiencing a work setback. And Empower Work, a national nonprofit, will provide support via our worker text line for people to process their job loss, think through their job search, and work on a plan to land their next job.

    If you’ve lost your job, had your hours cut, or are between jobs, you can apply for Connection Protection starting right now.

    The program is available to new and existing Visible customers who have been laid off, are not employed, and actively looking for work.

    Customers can find out more information here…

  • Airlines Have Until 2024 to Mitigate 5G Issues

    Airlines Have Until 2024 to Mitigate 5G Issues

    The Federal Aviation Administration has given airlines until 2024 to install equipment to mitigate issues caused by 5G.

    Verizon and AT&T spent tens of billions to purchase mid-band spectrum for their 5G rollout. Unfortunately, the spectrum is very close to that used by aircraft altimeters, leading to concerns that 5G could cause dangerous interference with flights.

    After negotiations and multiple concessions, Verizon and AT&T agreed to limit their mid-band 5G deployment around airports for a limited time, but the airline industry was unable to meet the agreed upon deadline of July 2023.

    According to a notice of proposed rule making, the FAA wants to make February 1, 2024 the new deadline for aircraft to be retrofitted.

    Non-radio altimeter tolerant airplanes can operate under part 121 subject to the revised AFM limitations until February 1, 2024, without meeting the radio altimeter performance requirements proposed in this AD. If this AD is finalized as proposed, after February 1, 2024, airplanes operating under part 121 must meet the radio altimeter tolerant requirements specified.

    The FAA is also concerned that errors — even minor ones — occurring as a result of 5G interference could lead to “desensitization” of the crew to error messages, increasing the chance of something important being missed.

    The FAA has assessed the cumulative effects of increasing numbers of erroneous warnings across the fleet of transport and commuter airplanes. Although they may seem minor in isolation such that some may consider them a mere nuisance, these warnings have safety implications over time. The erroneous warnings increase flightcrew workload as they try to ascertain the validity of the warning. Repeated determinations that the warning occurred in error will lead to flightcrew desensitization to warnings from these safety systems. In other words, as the flightcrew becomes more desensitized to erroneous warnings, they are less likely to react to an accurate warning, negating the safety benefits of the warning altogether and likely leading to a catastrophic incident.

    The FAA is clearly ready to put the whole 5G fiasco behind it, while Verizon and AT&T are eager to use the spectrum they spent billions acquiring. It appears all parties may be satisfied early next year.

  • Verizon Shuts Down Its 3G Network

    Verizon Shuts Down Its 3G Network

    Verizon has joined T-Mobile and AT&T, finally shutting down its 3G network as of December 31, 2022.

    Verizon is the last of the three nationwide carriers in the US to sunset its 3G network. AT&T shut down its legacy network in February 2022, with T-Mobile following suit between March and July 2022.

    According to Fierce Wireless, Verizon has sent customers a letter outlining the change:

    “Starting the day before your December 2022 bill cycle begins, if you are a Verizon customer using a 3G CDMA or 4G phone device that does not support our newer network technologies, your line will be suspended without billing and will lose the ability to call, text, or use data.”

    All three carriers have been keen to shutter their 3G networks to help free up spectrum for newer tech, but Verizon finally shuttering its 3G network marks the end of an era.

  • T-Mobile Is Still the 5G King With Its Latest Expansion

    T-Mobile Is Still the 5G King With Its Latest Expansion

    T-Mobile has expanded its 5G coverage yet again, helping the company remain firmly in first place in the US 5G wars.

    T-Mobile took an early lead in the 5G race thanks to the wealth of mid-band spectrum it gained with its Sprint acquisition. In contrast, AT&T and Verizon have had to pony up billions at FCC auctions to play catch-up. Despite their best efforts, however, T-Mobile keeps charging ahead, growing its lead.

    In its latest news, the magenta carrier said it now covers 323 million with its low-band Extended Range 5G and 260 million with its mid and high-band Ultra Capacity 5G. This puts the company weeks ahead of its year-end goal and positions it well for covering 300 million with Ultra Capacity 5G by the end of 2023.

    In contrast, Verizon recently announced its 5G Ultra Wideband, the equivalent of T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity 5G, only covers 175 million.

    “We’re rapidly executing on our vision to deliver the highest capacity network this country has ever seen,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “We’ve led in 5G coverage from the beginning, delivering a massive 5G footprint that continues to grow. And with Ultra Capacity 5G, it’s undeniable that T-Mobile customers have access to the most powerful 5G network around.”

  • Verizon Test Drive Lets Users Test Company’s 5G Network

    Verizon Test Drive Lets Users Test Company’s 5G Network

    Verizon is letting users test drive its 5G network without any commitment for 30 days

    Verizon is competing with T-Mobile and AT&T for the 5G market, although both it and AT&T still have quite a bit of ground to cover in their efforts to catch up. Verizon is hoping a free test drive will help, offering users 30 days to try “America’s Most Reliable 5G Network” with “no strings attached.”

    “There is no better time to switch to Verizon than right now and we are confident that once you take a test drive, you’ll wonder why you ever settled for one of the discount carriers,” said Chris Emmons, vice president of devices and accessories at Verizon. “So confident, in fact, that we’ve created Verizon Test Drive, a simple, seamless way for new customers to try out our network and services on an unlocked eSIM smartphone, for free, over a 30-day trial period without any contractual obligations.”

    The Verizon Test Drive will give users full access to the company’s fastest 5G Ultra Wideband network, its 5G Nationwide network, as well as its 4G LTE network. Potential customers will also have unlimited talk and text, as well as up to 100 GB of 4G and 5G data, and 480p streaming. Individuals can try Verizon’s service with no credit check, and without losing their existing service.

  • Verizon’s Fastest 5G Now Reaches More Than 175 Million

    Verizon’s Fastest 5G Now Reaches More Than 175 Million

    Verizon is catching up in the 5G wars, with the company now covering more than 175 million people with its fastest 5G Ultra Wideband.

    5G comes in three flavors: long-range but slower low-band, well-balanced mid-band spectrum, and high-band mmWave that offers the fastest speeds but poor range. Verizon initially bet big on mmWave before spending billions on mid-band C-band spectrum. Verizon refers to its C-band and mmWave collectively as 5G Ultra Wideband.

    The company’s rollout of its Ultra Wideband is moving faster than expected, with Verizon now covering more than 175 million people. The company was originally hoping to reach that goal by the end of 2022, putting it a month ahead of schedule.

    “Our customers don’t stand still and neither does our network. Today, more than one out of every two Americans now have access to 5G Ultra Wideband. We know our customers rely on our service every day and we work for them – continuously enhancing, expanding and improving our wireless network,” said Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon. “And as proud as I am to have crossed this milestone, I am equally proud of the way we are building our network – with the most advanced technologies, industry leading security, a robust fiber underpinning and a robust and varied spectrum portfolio. We are building this right. We are building this as a platform for innovation for years to come.”

  • Higher Prices Driving Verizon Customers Away

    Higher Prices Driving Verizon Customers Away

    Verizon has the dubious distinction of being the only one of the top three wireless carriers to be losing customers.

    Verizon announced its third-quarter results, with the company reporting a net loss of 189,000 postpaid phone subscribers. The company said it was “due to elevated churn partially as a result of recent pricing actions”

    According to CNET, Verizon posted similar subscriber losses in the second quarter, to the tune of 215,000. Those loses were similarly the result of increased prices, from raising the price of legacy plans to increasing administrative fees.

    The losses put Verizon in an interesting position, as it appears to be the only one of the top three carriers losing subscribers. AT&T gained 708,000 subscribers during this most recent quarter and T-Mobile has similarly continued its growth streak unabated.

    Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg painted the subscriber losses as part of Verizon’s attempt to increase profits and operational performance.

    “We took a number of actions in the third quarter that helped drive improved operational and financial performance, but we know there’s still more work to be done,” said Vestberg. “The pricing actions we took earlier this year, as well as our new cost savings program, show that we are being deliberate and strategic in our decisions to strengthen our business. At the same time, we are focused on executing our 5G strategy, as we are covering every major market and accelerating our C-Band network build. We are on track to reach 200 million POPs within first-quarter 2023.”

  • Verizon and AT&T Agree to Further 5G Delays Over Aircraft Concerns

    Verizon and AT&T Agree to Further 5G Delays Over Aircraft Concerns

    Verizon and AT&T have once again agreed to delay their 5G rollout, pushing back some deployments as far as mid-2023.

    The FAA, FCC, Verizon, and AT&T have reached a new compromise over the wireless carriers’ C-band 5G spectrum. The spectrum sits relatively close to the frequencies used by aircraft altimeters, causing concerns that 5G equipment could impact the safety of flights. Under the new compromise, Verizon and AT&T will delay 5G expansion in some areas until mid-2023 to give the airline industry time to install radio frequency filters.

    The two companies, along with the FCC, FAA, and the airline industry, were involved in a very public spat over the C-band spectrum. The carriers spent a whopping $68 billion at an FCC auction to acquire the spectrum, which sits in the sweet spot for 5G in terms of speed, coverage, and building penetration. As the companies prepared to roll it out, however, the FAA and airline industry pushed back, citing safety concerns.

    See also: Here’s the 50 Airports From Verizon and AT&T’s 5G

    The issue reached a point that prompted President Biden to weigh in. In addition, Congress expressed its displeasure at seeing two government agencies at odds with one another, especially over things as critical as communications and flight safety.

    Representative Garret Graves of the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee accused the two agencies of playing “chicken with one another – or whatever ridiculousness happened – and now we ended up threatening aviation safety. We had flights canceled. … It’s embarrassing.”

    Under the new plan, it appears the FAA and the wireless carriers were able to reach a mutual agreement without all the drama that has surrounded this issue to date.

    “We believe we have identified a path that will continue to enable aviation and 5G C-band wireless to safely co-exist,” said Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen. “We appreciate the willingness of Verizon and AT&T to continue this important and productive collaboration with the aviation industry.”

    Once the radio frequency filters are installed, by July 2023, Verizon and AT&T will be free to deploy their spectrum “in urban areas with minimal restrictions.”

  • $20 per Hour — Verizon Raises Its Minimum Pay

    $20 per Hour — Verizon Raises Its Minimum Pay

    Verizon has raised its minimum wage for Customer Service, Retail and Inside Sales personnel.

    Inflation has been increasing at a record pace, with many companies raising their pay to help employees make ends meet. Verizon is the latest to do so, raising its minimum pay to $20 an hour.

    “Our V Teamers give their best day in and day out to support our customers with all of their needs, which is why we want to make sure we support them as well,” said Krista Bourne, Chief Operating Officer for Verizon Consumer Group. “These changes are the direct result of employee feedback and will help us remain an attractive employer in this competitive environment.”

    The company is also offering signup bonuses for many markets.

    “I’m confident these changes will help us attract and retain the very best talent, and allow us to continue to improve our customer experience,” said Bourne.

  • KeyBanc Cites T-Mobile’s ‘Best-in-Class 5G Network’ As Reason For Upgrade

    KeyBanc Cites T-Mobile’s ‘Best-in-Class 5G Network’ As Reason For Upgrade

    T-Mobile’s 5G network has received a major endorsement, with KeyBanc Capital Markets upgrading the stock as a result of its “best-in-class 5G network.”

    Once a distant third-place carrier, behind Verizon and AT&T, T-Mobile has become the company to beat in the 5G race after its acquisition of Sprint. The magenta carrier purchased Sprint to gain access to that company’s wealth of mid-band spectrum, considered ideal for 5G deployment. Meanwhile, Verizon and AT&T have been playing catchup, spending billions to acquire the spectrum they needed to compete.

    Keybanc evidently agrees with T-Mobile’s leading position, with analyst Brandon Nispel upgrading the stock, according to Seeking Alpha. The upgrade follows a downgrade in August 2021.

    “Our August downgrade was based on the view that competition in wireless was increasing, expectations for growth were high, and valuation represented too substantial of a premium,” Nispel wrote in a note to clients. “While we still see the wireless market as increasingly competitive from Cable, we believe [T-Mobile] should continue to take substantially more share than AT&T and Verizon.”

    The upgrade is good news for T-Mobile and a validation of its 5G strategy.

  • Verizon Strikes Deal With Satellite Companies for Early C-Band Access

    Verizon Strikes Deal With Satellite Companies for Early C-Band Access

    Verizon has struck a deal with satellite companies to gain early access to the C-band spectrum it won in a recent FCC auction.

    C-band is critical to the successful rollout of 5G, providing the perfect blend of range, speed, and building penetration. A large portion of applicable spectrum is tied up by satellite providers, scheduled to be released in December 2023.

    Verizon says it has negotiated with the satellite companies to release the spectrum earlier than expected, which will allow the company to cover 175 million with its C-band spectrum by the end of 2022.

    “This early spectrum clearance is just the latest development that allows us to bring 5G Ultra Wideband to our customers faster,” said Kyle Malady, EVP and President of Global Network and Technology. “We’ve been able to accelerate deployment because we’re driving more efficiency and coverage from the C-band spectrum, leveraging opportunities like the one we are announcing today, and leveraging our already in place infrastructure. In my career with Verizon, I have never experienced a network deployment move so quickly.”

  • T-Mobile to Triple Mid-Band 5G Coverage in 2022

    T-Mobile to Triple Mid-Band 5G Coverage in 2022

    T-Mobile is looking to expand its lead in the US 5G market, planning to triple its mid-band 5G coverage in 2022.

    T-Mobile purchased Sprint largely to get the latter company’s wealth of mid-band spectrum. Considered the ideal compromise between speed and coverage, mid-band is essential to the successful rollout of 5G.

    While T-Mobile already covers the majority of the US population, the company wants to expand its physical coverage to include rural areas where the population density is relatively low, according to PCMag.

    “We’re going to have materially more macro-cell sites than our competition,” President of Technology Neville Ray said. “This is a macro build, with large volumes of macro sites.”

    The expansion will help cover the 40% of the US that includes “small markets and rural areas,” Ray said.

    Verizon has traditionally been the carrier that offered the best rural coverage. If T-Mobile’s plans come to fruition, it may give Verizon a run for its money.

  • Verizon to Cover 175 Million People With 5G Ultra Wideband by 2022 Year-End

    Verizon to Cover 175 Million People With 5G Ultra Wideband by 2022 Year-End

    Verizon has announced it plans to provide 175 million people with 5G Ultra Wideband by the end of 2022, much sooner than originally expected.

    5G Ultra Wideband is the umbrella term Verizon uses to refer to its mmWave and C-band flavors of 5G, comprised of high-band and mid-band spectrum respectively. The company has invested billions of dollars purchasing C-band spectrum, widely considered the sweet spot for speed and range, to compliment its fastest mmWave spectrum, which has much shorter range.

    The investments have paid off, with the company saying it will reach 175 million people by the end of 2022 instead of in 2023, as it originally projected.

    “Through our deliberate strategy of investment and divestment we have already significantly increased the size of our addressable market which, over the next 5 years, should grow an additional $120B. We chose a strategy where we not only participate in a much larger market but also a market where we are in the leading position in our paths to growth,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon Chairman and CEO. “Verizon’s transformative technology and Network-as-a-Service platform is what enables the 5G Economy and makes us the partner of choice for key customers and applications providers. Our high-capacity, low-latency network delivers a superior, unmatched experience that will enable all of our stakeholders to live, work and play in new and amazing ways for years to come.”

  • BlackRock Selects Verizon For On Site 5G Private Network

    BlackRock Selects Verizon For On Site 5G Private Network

    BlackRock has selected Verizon to provide it with an on site 5G private network, a big win for the wireless carrier.

    BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager and, as such, depends on fast reliable internet. The company has reached an agreement with the largest US wireless to provide private 5G for its global headquarters in New York.

    While 5G is often talked about in the realm of smartphones and tables, the next-generation wireless tech has countless applications for businesses and networks. With speeds reaching into the gigabits per second, private 5G networks can offer speed and security that traditional internet providers are hard-pressed to match.

    “5G Ultra Wideband is the platform for 21st century business and should be a prerequisite for any workplace that aims to be state of the art and future ready,” said Tami Erwin, CEO of Verizon Business. “BlackRock’s decision to outfit their new headquarters with On Site 5G from Verizon Business puts them at the forefront of data-centric innovation, in full view of clients, guests and partners, who can enjoy the on-premises private network and all its benefits as well.”

    “Our vision from the very beginning was to create a world-class, tech-centric experience for our people and our clients,” said Rob Goldstein, COO of BlackRock. “Partnering with Verizon Business to deploy On Site 5G at our new headquarters will help us turn that vision into reality. As we usher in a new world of work, the vibrant and dynamic environment that we are looking to create will give our people the best opportunities to succeed and better serve our clients.”

  • FAA: Boeing 737 Fleet Still Susceptible to 5G Interference

    FAA: Boeing 737 Fleet Still Susceptible to 5G Interference

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned the existing fleet of Boeing 737s are still susceptible to 5G interference.

    Verizon and AT&T spent billions buying C-band spectrum for their 5G networks at a recent FCC auction, only to have the FAA and airline industry raise concerns about 5G interference. Because C-band spectrum is so close to the spectrum aircraft altimeters use, there were concerns 5G could interfere with those altimeters, leading to significant dangers during flights, and especially when taking off and landing.

    Despite eventually coming to terms that allowed Verizon and AT&T to continue with their deployment, the FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD), indicating that Boeing 737s are still particularly susceptible to interference.

    This AD was prompted by a determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied upon to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C-Band), and a recent determination that, during approach, landings, and go-arounds, as a result of this interference, certain airplane systems may not properly function, resulting in increased flightcrew workload while on approach with the flight director, autothrottle, or autopilot engaged, which could result in reduced ability of the flightcrew to maintain safe flight and landing of the airplane.

    It’s currently unclear what, if any, mitigation efforts may be taken.

  • Congress Is Not Impressed With FCC/FAA 5G Controversy

    Congress Is Not Impressed With FCC/FAA 5G Controversy

    Congress is weighing in on the botched rollout of 5G C-band spectrum — a rollout that put the FCC and FAA at odds — and they’re not impressed.

    Verizon and AT&T spent more than $68 billion to license mid-band 5G spectrum, called C-band. C-band is considered the ideal compromise between speed and coverage, and is essential to wireless carriers’ attempts to deploy the next-generation network.

    Unfortunately, the spectrum in question is dangerously close the spectrum used by aircraft altimeters, leading airlines and the FAA to object to its use. Eventually a compromise was reached, with Verizon and AT&T agreeing to exclusion zones around airports. The agreement was not reached without a number of delays, threats, negotiations, and appeals to the White House.

    Congress is now reviewing the situation and has had some tough words for the two agencies, according to NASDAQ.

    Representative Garret Graves, of the Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee, said the two agencies played “chicken with one another – or whatever ridiculousness happened – and now we ended up threatening aviation safety. We had flights canceled. … It’s embarrassing.”

    Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio said “the current interagency process for auctioning off spectrum is completely broken.”

    “Having a dropped call is way less serious than having a dropped airplane out of the sky,” DeFazio said.

  • T-Mobile ‘Remains Firmly in First Place’ in the US 5G Wars

    T-Mobile ‘Remains Firmly in First Place’ in the US 5G Wars

    T-Mobile is continuing to dominate the US 5G market, beating both Verizon and AT&T, in OpenSignal’s latest report.

    T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T are racing to switch their networks over to 5G, rolling out new spectrum as fast as they can. T-Mobile gained a huge advantage with its purchase of Sprint, taking over Sprint’s wealth of mid-band spectrum, which is ideal for 5G deployment. Verizon and AT&T, on the other hand, spent some $68 billion at a single FCC auction to bolster their mid-band spectrum, only to run into issues with the airline industry that have impeded their ability to fully use their spectrum.

    Between the early lead T-Mobile was able to take, and its spectrum not being subject to the same concerns as Verizon and AT&T, in terms of the airline industry, T-Mobile has cemented itself as the 5G company to beat in the US.

    According to OpenSignal’s January 2022 5G Experience Report, T-Mobile now wins in four of six categories: 5G Availability, 5G Reach, Upload Speed, and Download Speed. Verizon won the other two categories, 5G Games Experience and 5G Voice App Experience, while AT&T did not win any categories.

    “The experts have spoken: T-Mobile 5G is number one in speed and coverage, and we’re continuing to pull away from the pack,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “We have the largest 5G network covering 310 million people – 210 million of whom are covered by Ultra Capacity 5G. That’s more than double Verizon’s Ultra Wideband and light years ahead of AT&T’s 5G+. Our competitors are trying desperately to convince consumers and businesses otherwise, but there’s no denying T-Mobile is THE leader in 5G and in a position to deliver the best network performance and capabilities to customers throughout the 5G era.”

  • FAA: 78% of US Commercial Aircraft Safe Amid 5G Concerns

    FAA: 78% of US Commercial Aircraft Safe Amid 5G Concerns

    The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared roughly 78% of the US commercial aircraft fleet for low-visibility approaches near C-band 5G.

    The airline industry has been at odds with Verizon and AT&T over the rollout of C-band 5G. C-band is in the mid-band range of frequencies that are very close to those used by aircraft altimeters. The airline industry and FAA have been concerned that C-band could interfere with altimeters, putting aircraft at risk in low-visibility conditions.

    After delays and negotiations, Verizon and AT&T began rolling out their new spectrum on January 19, and the FAA has now cleared a large portion of the US aircraft fleet for low-visibility approaches.

    “The FAA issued new approvals Thursday that allow an estimated 78 percent of the U.S. commercial fleet to perform low-visibility landings at airports where wireless companies deployed 5G C-band,” the FAA’s statement reads. “This now includes some regional jets. 

    “Airplane models with one of the 13 cleared altimeters include all Boeing 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787, MD-10/-11; all Airbus A300, A310, A319, A320, A330, A340, A350 and A380 models; and some Embraer 170 and 190 regional jets.

    “The FAA is working diligently to determine which altimeters are reliable and accurate where 5G is deployed in the United States. We anticipate some altimeters will be too susceptible to 5G interference. To preserve safety, aircraft with those altimeters will be prohibited from performing low-visibility landings where 5G is deployed because the altimeter could provide inaccurate information.”

    The FAA says altimeters that are not deemed safe will need to be retrofitted or replaced.