[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] US telecom companies such as AT&T and Verizon have decided to delay the launch of their mid-band 5G services, originally scheduled for the 5th, by two weeks. Despite industry requests to postpone due to concerns over risks to aviation operations and mediation by the US government, the telecom companies reversed their stance just one day after insisting on keeping the original launch date.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and others, AT&T announced on the 3rd (local time) that it voluntarily agreed to an additional two-week delay following requests from US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and others. Verizon also announced it would postpone the January service launch by two weeks.
AT&T and Verizon are in the process of transitioning their 5G services, which use the ultra-high frequency 28 GHz band, to the 3.7?4.2 GHz band known as the 'C-band.' However, the aviation industry has raised concerns that mid-band 5G signals near airports could interfere with electronic equipment inside aircraft using the same frequency band, potentially threatening safe flight operations.
Earlier, on the 31st of last month, Secretary Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Steve Dickson sent letters to the two companies requesting a delay in service to allow adequate assessment of these risks and time to share the results with aviation industry stakeholders. However, the two telecom companies had previously expressed refusal the day before, stating they had already postponed the launch once from the 5th of last month to the 5th of this month.
The background behind AT&T and Verizon reversing their positions within just one day includes concerns that the FAA could halt mid-band 5G services through lawsuits and other measures. WSJ, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Airlines for America (AFA), representing the aviation industry, planned to request a federal court to block the 5G service launch. The source added that after AT&T and Verizon agreed to delay the service launch by two weeks until the 19th, this plan was also postponed.
The FAA welcomed AT&T and Verizon's voluntary decision to delay the launch as a measure to address safety concerns near airports.
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