Aircrafts won’t face any interference from 5G in India: Vaishnaw

After the 5G issue regarding aircrafts in the United States (U.S.), Indians are worried 5G frequencies will affect aircraft equipment. Ashwini Vaishnaw, communications and IT minister of the country has cleared all doubts regarding the matter.

Vaishnaw has confirmed that 5G is not an issue for the Indian airline industry. Even aircrafts from international airlines flying within India won’t face the issue, says the report by TelecomTalk.

In the U.S.A., aircrafts have altimeters which utilise spectrum in the same range as 5G, namely C-Band. However, in India, there’s enough spectrum guard in the frequencies between C-band 5G and those in the altimeter in aircrafts. Thus, there is no issue of interference in airline operations with 5G in India, states the report.

The altimeter, a key equipment in aircrafts, is used for determining the height at which the plane is flying. Speaking at a post-budget conference, Vaishnaw confirmed airlines will not face any issues from 5G in flight operation.

Last month, Air India cancelled all its flights to the U.S. as a provision for the possible interferences that 5G would cause its aircrafts. In the United States, spectrum that is used for 5G is in the range of spectrum used by aircraft altimeters. Which is where the interference in frequencies is possible.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. along with their telecom bodies are working to carve out long-term solution to fix this issue. Several countries, around the world, have launched 5G services and do not face any issues with flight operations.

5G is due for a roll out in India. The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said in her Union Budget speech that the 5G spectrum auctions will take place in the calendar year 2022 and the rollout in the financial year 2023.

CT Bureau