AT&T and Verizon have agreed to delay the operation of some wireless telecommunication towers near major airports as part of their use of fifth-generation technology to provide high-speed Internet services to tens of thousands of people.
US President Joe Biden has said that “this will prevent disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90 per cent of wireless communication towers to be used as planned.”
The Federal Aviation Administration released an updated list of airports that could be used by aircraft late Tuesday, including John F. Kennedy of New York. Major airports include Kennedy and Lacardia, Los Angeles, Chicago, O’Hare in San Francisco and Midway. And Seattle.
Sources told Reuters that Verizon will not temporarily operate about 500 telecommunication towers near airports, which is less than ten percent of the planned operation, while informed sources say that airlines and the US administration are looking for a permanent solution.
It did not provide details, including the delay period of the contract.
This came as global airlines rushed to modify or cancel flights to the United States on Wednesday, raising security concerns, ahead of the use of fifth-generation technology.
Aviation management has warned that any interruption in this technology, which plays a key role in landing some aircraft during bad weather, could affect altitude readings.
(Reuters)