DoT asks telcos to shut down 5G services near airports, here’s why – Times of India

The civil aviation ministry has reportedly requested the Department of Telecom to impose some new restrictions related to 5G coverage across the country by the telecom operators. These temporary restrictions will require the telcos to shut down 5G services in high-frequency bands in and around airports. DoT has asked the telcos to stop installing 5G base stations in the 3.3-3.6 GHz band in an area of nearly 2 kilometres from both ends of the runway and almost a kilometre from the centre line of the runway of Indian airports. DoT’s restrictions are based on the buffer and safety zone details provided by the aviation ministry.
DoT’s new restrictions for telecom operators: More details
According to a report by PTI, telcos have to shut down 5G service in the 3.3-3.6 GHz band only in and around airports to comply with the temporary restrictions provided by DoT. The report claims that the services will be restored after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ensures that altimeters in all the aircraft have been replaced.
As per the report, DGCA has not shared any timeline for completing this replacement exercise. However, DoT expects DGCA to complete the altimeter replacement exercise in a “proactive and time-bound manner,” and has also asked the civil aviation regulatory body to provide a timeline for the same.

DoT has also asked DGCA to communicate geo-coordinates of four corners of all the airstrips where such limitations or restrictions are required to be placed on 5G systems, within 30 days.
What are altimetres
The DoT notice also states that telecom operators to have tilt down 5G base stations to avoid interference of signals with that of altimeters that are used in flights. Altimeters are devices that helps pilots to maintain the desired height of the aircraft.
DoT’s new restrictions: Affected telecom operators
The only telecom operator that has launched 5G services at select airports is Airtel. The company’s 5G services are available in select airports including — Bengaluru, Pune, Patna, Nagpur and Varanasi.