LOS ANGELES (KNX) — Eight California airports are among 50 that will implement “5G buffer zones” in place when wireless companies turn on their new 5G C-Band service on Jan. 19, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Five of the eight airports that will block the capabilities are in Southern California — LAX, Hollywood Burbank Airport, John Wayne Airport, Daugherty Field and Ontario International. The other three airlines are San Francisco International, the San Jose Airport and Fresno Yosemite International.
“The [FAA] sought input from the aviation community where the proposed buffer zones would help reduce the risk of disruption,” the agency said in a statement, explaining how the 50 sites were selected.
“Traffic volume, the number of low-visibility days and geographic location factored into the selection.”
Having the buffer zone in place means that wireless companies have agreed to turn off all transmitters in the 50 areas and “make other adjustments near these areas” for six months, the FAA said, all to minimize potential interference with aircraft instruments that are used during low-visibility landings.
In a letter to the heads of AT&T and Verizon, FAA Administrator Steve Dickman and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg both thanked the companies for their agreement to delay 5G services in the areas.
“Your voluntary agreement both to delay initial deployment by two weeks and to subsequently adopt some additional mitigations, will give us additional time and space to reduce the impacts to commercial flights,” the letter reads.
“We understand you will work with the Federal Communications Commission to further memorialize the additional mitigations you are putting in place.”
Over the six-month period, the companies will work with aviation stakeholders to support technical research into how the technology affects altimeters — the devices used to help pilots land in low-visibility conditions — at the individual locations.
This is the second time the wireless companies have delayed the debut of 5G, according to PCMag. In early December 2021 they were asked to hold off until Jan. 5. Then on Jan. 2 they were again asked to hold back while safety was investigated.
The list of 50 airports where the delays will occur includes major airports like John F. Kennedy and Miami International Airports in New York and Miami, respectively. A full list of airports can be found here.
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