The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has asked the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and national telecom regulators to ensure that the deployment of 5G and future 6G networks does not interfere with radio altimeters and other critical avionic equipment.
In preparation for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC‑27), the ITU is conducting detailed studies to define the technical conditions for global 5G/6G use. IATA has submitted a working paper to the ITU Working Party 5B (Geneva, 18‑27 November 2025) that outlines the operational scenarios and safety requirements that must be reflected in future spectrum policy.
IATA’s key requests
- Consider all critical flight phases – take‑off, landing, taxi, go‑around – as well as adverse weather and emergency situations.
- Maintain a minimum vertical separation of 35 ft (11 m) between aircraft and terrestrial 5G transmitters.
- Base spectrum decisions on real‑world aviation operations rather than on idealised telecom models.
“The benefits of 5G and 6G must never compromise aviation safety. Spectrum rules have to reflect the most demanding conditions pilots face, ensuring that radio altimeters and other safety‑critical systems can coexist with next‑generation telecom networks throughout all flight phases,” said Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice‑President Operations, Safety and Security.
Current 5G mitigation challenges
The 5G band adjacent to the radio‑altimeter allocation (4.2‑4.4 GHz) poses a risk of interference. Some countries have introduced temporary mitigation measures such as reduced transmission power, runway exclusion zones and downward antenna tilting. These measures are set to expire soon:
- Canada – 1 January 2026
- Australia – 1 April 2026
- United States – mitigation removal scheduled for 2028, alongside upcoming Upper C‑Band auction (3.98‑4.2 GHz)
More resilient radio altimeters are not expected to reach airlines before the early 2030s, creating a gap between the removal of current mitigations and the availability of upgraded equipment.
“Regulators must not assume that safety will self‑correct. Clear, consistent safeguards are needed to bridge the period until next‑generation altimeters become operational,” added Careen.
Notes for editors:
- IATA represents roughly 350 airlines, covering more than 80 % of global air traffic.
- Follow IATA on X for announcements and policy updates.
Source: www.iata.org
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