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Once the agreement is finalized, AT&T and Verizon will resume 5G services on Jan. 19.
The airline industry had been set to file suit imminently to block the services, which will enable faster internet connectivity across the country, but that risked interfering with aircraft avionics and forcing mass flight cancellations. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images
By ORIANA PAWLYK
01/03/2022 10:16 PM EST
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The airline and wireless industries, locked for months in a game of chicken over 5G broadband services set to be enabled on Wednesday, have agreed to a two-week delay, given concerns that airlines would have to cancel thousands of flights to avoid interference with airline equipment.
Verizon and A&T as well as Airlines for America, the lobby for major U.S. airlines, confirmed the tentative deal today.
“We’ve agreed to a two-week delay which promises the certainty of bringing this nation our game-changing 5G network in January delivered over America’s best and most reliable network,” Rich Young, Verizon spokesperson, said in a statement. AT&T added it will utilize additional protections in certain airport zones over the next six months.