IATA Urges Stronger Safeguards for Aircraft Safety as 5G Networks Expand

Published on November 21, 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is urgently calling on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and national telecommunications regulators to take extra precautions as the roll-out of 5G and future 6G networks grows. With the expansion of these next-generation telecommunications technologies, IATA emphasizes that it is critical to safeguard essential aviation systems like radio altimeters, which provide crucial height information during flights. This issue is particularly pressing as the ITU conducts studies ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27).

IATA’s statement comes at a time when the deployment of 5G and the upcoming 6G networks could interfere with aviation frequencies, potentially putting aviation safety at risk. As these new telecom networks become more widespread, IATA is working to ensure the operational safety of flight crews and their ability to rely on avionic systems, such as radio altimeters, to perform crucial functions such as landing, takeoff, and navigating adverse weather conditions.

IATA’s Call to Action: Prioritizing Safety in Spectrum Policy

In its recently submitted working paper, which will be presented at the ITU WP5B Meeting in Geneva from November 18-27, 2025, IATA urges telecom regulators and the ITU to prioritize safety in future spectrum policies. This paper calls for the inclusion of all safety scenarios in upcoming studies, including critical phases of flight such as take-off, landing, taxiing, and go-arounds, as well as extreme weather conditions like turbulence and windshear. Radio altimeters are essential in these conditions, as they provide height information to both the flight crew and automated safety systems.

Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Operations, Safety, and Security, highlighted the potential risks posed by 5G and 6G, stating that these technologies must not interfere with aviation safety. He noted that it is vital that ITU studies be based on real-world aviation scenarios, not theoretical telecommunications models. These studies must reflect the most challenging and demanding conditions that pilots face in daily operations, ensuring the safety of flight crews and passengers alike.

Careen emphasized that while 5G and 6G are revolutionary technologies, their rollout must not compromise aviation safety. He stated that the ITU must ensure aviation users are involved in the decision-making process to ensure spectrum decisions reflect the real-world conditions pilots encounter. Careen further stressed that the WRC-27 must establish clear and actionable rules to ensure the safe coexistence of radio altimeters and other critical avionic systems with the next generation of telecom networks, particularly during critical flight phases.

The Growing Concern of 5G Interference

The primary concern is the 5G band, which is located adjacent to the frequency range used by radio altimeters (4.2–4.4 GHz). As telecom companies expand 5G networks, there are increasing risks of interference with radio altimeters, especially in countries where mitigation strategies are about to expire.

In countries like Canada and Australia, some of the key mitigation strategies, such as reducing transmission power and creating runway exclusion zones, are set to lapse in 2026. These mitigation strategies were put in place to minimize the risk of 5G interference with aviation systems. However, these temporary measures were never designed as long-term solutions. With the expiration of these measures looming, aviation safety could be jeopardized, especially since more resilient radio altimeters that are resistant to 5G interference are not expected to be available until the early 2030s.

In the U.S., plans are already underway to auction the Upper C-Band (3.98–4.2 GHz), which is immediately adjacent to the 4.2 GHz frequency band used by radio altimeters. Current 5G mitigations in the U.S. are scheduled to be removed by 2028, which adds to the complexity of ensuring aviation safety during this transitional period.

Aviation Safety at Risk: The Urgent Need for Clear Rules

As the industry transitions to 5G and 6G, IATA is urging ITU and national regulators not to assume that safety will take care of itself. Current mitigations were never meant to be permanent solutions, and new radio altimeter technologies will not reach airlines in time to bridge this gap. With the continued rollout of 5G and the scheduled removal of key mitigations, the aviation industry finds itself in a precarious situation.

IATA is calling for clear, consistent, and long-term safeguards that will ensure the safe coexistence of radio altimeters and 5G/6G telecom networks. These safeguards will be crucial to maintaining the integrity of flight operations while enabling the continued growth of global telecommunications.

Table: Mitigation Expiry and 5G Deployment Timelines

Conclusion: Bridging the Gap Between Telecom Growth and Aviation Safety

As the ITU works toward a global consensus on spectrum policy ahead of the WRC-27, it is essential that the aviation industry’s needs are fully considered. The introduction of 5G and 6G technologies offers great potential for connectivity, but it must not come at the expense of aviation safety. With key mitigations set to expire and the availability of new altimeter technologies still years away, the gap between the expansion of telecom networks and aviation safety systems is widening.

The IATA’s call to action is clear: regulators must ensure that aviation safety is not compromised by the expansion of 5G and 6G networks. This will require a comprehensive and global approach, one that includes input from aviation safety authorities, telecom regulators, and other stakeholders. Only by implementing robust safeguards can we ensure that aviation systems continue to operate safely in the face of technological advancements.