FAA establishes 5G exclusion zones at 50 U.S. airports

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration published a list of 50 airports that will have «buffer zones» to prevent interference during the deployment of 5G service in the northern country, planned for January 19.

According to the government agency, the factors for selecting the airports included traffic volume, number of days per year with low visibility conditions, and geographic location. Many airports were left off the list, the regulator said because they «are not located in the 46 markets where 5G service will be deployed or do not currently have the capacity to allow for low-visibility landings,» so they would not be affected by the technology’s deployment.

See also: Boeing and Airbus call for caution in 5G service deployment 

The telecom providers agreed to «shut down their transmitters and make other – as yet unspecified – adjustments near these airports for six months» to minimize potential 5G interference with aircraft instruments, which are used for low-visibility landings.

The FAA reported that it will continue to work with aircraft manufacturers and communications companies to ensure that the deployment of 5G technology is done in a «safe and secure manner while minimizing the risk of disruption to operations» at airports.

Impacted airports