The 5G Crisis That Wasn't

The 5G Crisis That Wasn't

January 2022
17 min read
Madhu Unnikrishnan

Already a subscriber? Login

Issue Overview

The U.S. air transport system would grind to halt, stranding tens of thousands of passengers all over the world and further disrupting the supply chain by critically disrupting cargo. At least, that's what the airline industry predicted would happen if AT&T and Verizon pressed ahead with their 5G wireless networks. The telecommunications companies agreed — grudgingly — to a further delay to let the Federal Aviation Administration and the aviation sector work out where interference with radio altimeters might occur and on what aircraft. By the end of last week, most aircraft types and major airports had been cleared, so…