Thursday, January 12, 2023

$26M Stands Between Telecoms and Full Use of 5G on C-Band

By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
The FAA believes it will cost about $26 million to fix or replace radio or radar altimeters that it says could be susceptible to 5G interference on C-band. That figure is part of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking the FAA issued this week that would apply to transport and commuter planes equipped with such gear. Inside Towers reported the FAA is suggesting that airlines be given another year (to February 2024) to make repairs — delaying when AT&T and Verizon can transmit 5G on C-band frequencies near certain airports.

Out of nearly 8,000 airplanes in the U.S. registry, the FAA believes “about 180 airplanes would require radio altimeter replacement and 820 airplanes would require the addition of radio altimeter filters to comply with the proposed modification requirement.” It estimates the filters cost at $5,020 per unit and radio altimeter replacement at “up to $80,000 per airplane.” The exact total estimate given in the NPRM is $26,049,810. Continue Reading

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