The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says it has no reason to believe 5G services using C-band spectrum could interfere with sensitive aircraft equipment, putting it at odds with its US counterparts.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is concerned that 5G networks powered by mid-range "C-band" spectrum could affect sensitive electronic devices, such as altimeters, that rely on frequencies between 4,2, 4,4 and XNUMXGHz.
Carriers in the United States questioned those fears but agreed to a number of measures to help mitigate the perceived threat, including airport buffer zones at 50 locations in the United States. Meanwhile, the FAA has issued safety advisories for airlines and aircraft manufacturers.
5G aerial threat
The FAA's views have been largely ignored by aviation regulators in other countries. In a security advisory issued last month, the CAA said that while it acknowledged the FAA's assessment, it did not believe immediate action was necessary.
“There have been no reported incidents of aircraft systems affected by 5G transmissions in UK airspace, but we are nonetheless working with Ofcom and the Ministry of Defense to ensure that the rollout of 5G in the UK does not cause any harm. technical problem for aircraft. “, confirmed the CAA.
UK traders have also taken steps to allay any fears. Industry body Mobile UK said C-band spectrum had been used in many other countries without reported incidents and existing 5G services had been operating in the UK for several years.
He added that various parties, including the CAA, Ofcom and the Defense Ministry, were working together to ensure there was no interference.
"UK mobile network operators follow all health and safety guidelines and engage with a variety of industries on interference," said Gareth Elliott, Mobile UK communications and policy manager. "Mobile operators are actively coordinating with aviation authorities to ensure there is no interference in the UK."
“We are aware that the aviation industry is addressing this issue; we have done our own technical analysis and have not yet seen any evidence that we may be concerned about,” Ofcom added.
The four major UK operators hold licenses for mid-range frequencies between 3,4 GHz and 4,2 GHz. Such spectrum offers a compromise between the range and interior penetration characteristics of short-range radio waves and the enormous capacity offered by high band frequencies.
Spectrum is seen as crucial to the rollout of 5G networks as it will help operators improve coverage in rural areas and build capacity in busy urban areas where network density is essential.