The chief executives of Boeing and Airbus Americas have urged the US government to delay the rollout of 5G mobile services.
Dave Calhoun and Jeffrey Knittel wrote to transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg earlier this week to call for a delay over fears about the impact on aviation safety.
US mobile networks AT&T and Verizon are due to deploy C-Band spectrum 5G wireless on January 5, Reuters reported.
The letter from the executives argued that 5G interference could have an “enormous negative impact” on the aviation industry and said it could “adversely affect the ability of aircraft to safely operate” by interfering with electronics.
Analysis from aviation group Airlines for America claims that if guidance from the US Federal Aviation Administration around potential interference from 5G had been in place in 2019, it would have resulted in around 345,000 passenger flights and 5,400 cargo flights being delayed, diverted or cancelled.
Reuters said the planned 5G rollout had been pushed back from November in order for measures to be introduced to limit interference, but it still faced opposition from the aviation industry.
Trade association CTIA, which represents wireless operators, claims 5G is safe and has accused the industry of distorting facts.
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