NCAA Allays Fears of 5G Network Interference With Aircraft Equipment

31 Jan NCAA Allays Fears of 5G Network Interference With Aircraft Equipment

The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt Musa Nuhu has put to rest, fears that the proposed roll out of the 5G network may interfere with communications with aircraft.

Some 40 countries are already safely using these and similar radio waves for 5G and other wireless services, at similar power levels. Even at that, there still exist a lot of confusion about 5G, air traffic, and safety.

Speaking to newsmen at the weekend, Capt Nuhu clarified that it is not completely true that the 5G network has been suspended in the United States, rather it was just in some of the places close to a few of the airports within some radius that 5G was suspended in order to fully understand what is happening.

According to Capt Nuhu, the concern raised is about interference with aircraft that are being controlled to land.

He stated that, a critical component called radio altimeter; the spectrum by which this equipment operates is close to that of the 5G.

“So, they are afraid of interference from the radio altimeter and giving aircraft erroneous indication and during aircraft approach landing when they are about 2,500ft or so above the ground. Usually, it is for flights that are put to land”, Nuhu explained.

Relating the situation to Nigeria, he added “For us in Nigeria, we don’t have auto landing authorisation, our flights don’t do auto landing. So, for now, it is of no concern to us, but we are still monitoring the situation, see the development if there are issues that might affect us, then, we will take the necessary action.

The Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta had earlier allayed fears of the health, and safety environmental impact of the 5G network, as well as its likely impact on avaiation.

Prof Danbatta stated that with all available information, nothing has been able to show that masts are dangerous to the public health, as the NCC watches its likely impact on aviation, Nigeria will respond with globally-accepted measures where the threat emerges.

In his presentation on the topic titled: “Setting The Stage for 5G Journey; Requirements, Deployment and Challenges, the EVC who was represented by Head, Fixed Network and Converged Services Unit of NCC, Mr Anthony Ikemefuna stated that, if masts are dangerous to health, most Nigerians would have been adversely affected healthwise right from the days of 1G, 2G 3G networks, stressing that the radiation from the “090” network used in the late 80s, were even much more than what we have today.

Danbatta therefore, averred that, it is not true that 5G is the cause of the coronavirus pandemic as rumoured in some quarters.

Explaining further on the impact of 5G network on health, the EVC said “there are no specifically proven evidence of any negative impact on human health associated with radiation from mobile networks, including 5G”.