--- title: Airlines vs. 5G, explained - The Hustle description: Airlines worry that 5G could interfere with altimeters, a device pilots use to land in low visibility. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1568586121-News-Brief_2022-01-21T020134.513Z.webp --- # Airlines vs. 5G, explained ![Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://53.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/53/assets/hubspot.com/web-team/WBZ/HubSpot%20Media/Blog%202021/Images/Nav/Optimized/TheHustle_Icon_Dark.svg) [Juliet Bennett Rylah](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/juliet-bennett-rylah) [Juliet Bennett Rylah Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/JBRylah) Published: January 21, 2022 Updated: October 11, 2023 5G is under fire this week, but not from conspiracy theory message boards this time. ![Airlines vs. 5G, explained](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1568586121-News-Brief_2022-01-21T020134.513Z.webp?width=595&height=400&name=1568586121-News-Brief_2022-01-21T020134.513Z.webp) The core issue this week is safety in the skies. #### **The backstory** Back in February 2021, the FCC [auctioned off](https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/verizon-at-t-t-mobile-dominate-81-billion-5g-spectrum-auction/) a spectrum in the C band to telecom carriers including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile for $81B+. C band frequencies are between 4-8 GHz, [per](https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-c-band) *PC Mag*. AT&T and Verizon’s 5G networks [use](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2021/12/23/faa-issues-new-radar-altimeter-5g-c-band-risk-assessment-request-aviation-industry/) frequencies between 3.7 and 3.98 GHz. #### **And that’s not far from 4.2 to 4.4 GHz…** … which aircraft radar altimeters use. Altimeters tell pilots how high their plane is from the ground — crucial when landing in low visibility. Concern that 5G antennas near airports could cause interference — and thus delays and cancellations — has led to weeks of discussion among transportation regulators, wireless companies, and airlines, [per](https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/19/tech/airlines-5g-flights-canceled-explainer/index.html) *CNN*. #### **On Wednesday, AT&T and Verizon turned on their 5G networks** However, they agreed to hold off near airports. That compromise, plus good weather, led to a fairly smooth rollout. By Thursday morning, the FAA had cleared 62% of the nation’s aircraft to land in low visibility, with more expected soon, [per](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/01/20/faa-warns-5g-related-landing-restrictions-could-divert-flights-as-snow-hits-airports.html) *CNBC*. Meanwhile, *PBS NewsHour *science correspondent Miles O’Brien [says](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhATZOJ4XmE) compromises are likely to continue until all altimeters can be upgraded to those unlikely “to be fooled by 5G.” Topics: [Airlines](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/tag/airlines) ## Follow us on social media prev next - ![Luggage mayhem adds to airport chaos](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/934739686-HS-News-Brief_2022-07-17T231249.993Z-scaled.webp) ### Luggage mayhem adds to airport chaos - ![Could airlines band together to ground unruly passengers?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/385814663-News-Brief_2021-09-30T001952.325Z.webp) ### Could airlines band together to ground unruly passengers? - ![The NOTAM plane debacle, explained](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1627450004-HS-News-Brief_2023-01-12T002911.656Z.webp) ### The NOTAM plane debacle, explained - ![Southwest Airlines’ travel chaos, explained](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/282963363-HS-News-Brief_2022-12-28T002537.688Z-scaled.webp) ### Southwest Airlines’ travel chaos, explained - ![In the battle of airports, the West Coast wins](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/158572272-HS-News-Brief_2022-11-21T014329.625Z.webp) ### In the battle of airports, the West Coast wins - ![Why in-flight WiFi will only get better](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/956562894-HS-News-Brief_2022-08-31T225640.785Z.webp) ### Why in-flight WiFi will only get better - ![United Airlines just made a down payment on flying taxis](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1591494522-HS-News-Brief_2022-08-11T025414.898Z.webp) ### United Airlines just made a down payment on flying taxis - ![Digits: 15-minute delivery, Lightyear, and teacher shortages](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1789170352-HS-News-Brief_2022-06-20T231522.380Z-878x1024.webp) ### Digits: 15-minute delivery, Lightyear, and teacher shortages - ![Airfare prices are soaring past inflation](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/60638278-HS-News-Brief_2022-05-19T001526.822Z-scaled.webp) ### Airfare prices are soaring past inflation - ![The $6.6B discount airline merger](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1522538787-News-Brief_2022-02-08T024003.785Z-scaled.webp) ### The $6.6B discount airline merger Pop up for Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Get the 5-minute news brief keeping 2.5M+ innovators in the loop. 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