Area surrounding Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky will see 5G rollout delay

Emily DeLetter, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
The area around the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport will see a delay in the launch of 5G services by Verizon and AT&T as a two-mile buffer will be set around the airport to allow allowed the FAA, the aviation community and wireless companies to reduce the risk of delays and cancellations.
The area around the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport will see a delay in the launch of 5G services by Verizon and AT&T as a two-mile buffer will be set around the airport to allow allowed the FAA, the aviation community and wireless companies to reduce the risk of delays and cancellations.

The area surrounding Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport will see a delay in the rollout of 5G services from Verizon and AT&T as airports nationwide are concerned about aviation safety as 5G launches today.

As reported by USA TODAY, the decision to delay the rollout in some areas from the telecommunications giants came after CEOs of major airlines, FedEx and UPS asked the Biden administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Department to address concerns about activating 5G.

Verizon and AT&T planned to launch 5G networks around the country Wednesday.

The delay, which would be active within two miles of certain airport runways was "to avoid significant operational disruption to air passengers, shippers, supply chain and delivery of needed medical supplies," the airlines said in the letter addressed to the FAA, DOT, the Federal Communications Commission and National Economic Council director Brian Deese.

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5G services use frequencies in a radio spectrum called the C-band, according to the FAA. These frequencies can be close to those used by radar altimeters, which provide highly accurate information about an aircraft’s height above the ground. Data from these radio altimeters informs other safety equipment on the plane, including navigation instruments, terrain awareness, and collision-avoidance systems.

Over 80 commercial airports will have the two-mile 5G buffer, according to a list released by the FAA.

Ohio airports that will have the buffer include Akron-Canton Airport and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The buffer will also be in place at airports close to Ohio, including Indianapolis International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport.

"Operational procedures have been implemented with the carriers and FAA to ensure there are no disruptions to operations at CVG while this matter is being resolved on a federal level," CVG spokesperson Mindy Kershner wrote in an email.

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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Area surrounding CVG will see delay of 5G rollout from Verizon, AT&T