US meteorologists worried over 5G roll-out

10 Jul 2019

US meteorologists worried over 5G roll-out

US meteorologists worried over 5G roll-outUS meteorologists* have warned that 5G mobile data networks could disrupt signals from weather satellites.

A group of scientific bodies have written a letter to the Federal Communications Commission* (FCC).
 	They have opposed the idea of sharing a radio spectrum band: 1675 - 1680MHz, with mobile companies.
 	According to them, sharing of the radio band would lead to delays in receiving life-saving data from weather satellites.

Ligado networks, the company that would like to use the spectrum band for 5G, has also written to the FCC.

They say that not allowing 5G use within the said band would be a waste of this prime, lower mid-band spectrum.
 	According to them, the US can win the race to 5G by allowing mobile networks to use this spectrum band.
 	Ligado has suggested that weather forecasters could download weather data through internet services.

However, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, getting photographs of the entire Earth through internet services would to be too slow.

Independent consultant, Professor William Webb, who has written the book The 5G Myth, says that-

5G networks won't cause an interference if they come up in city centres. 
 	It'll be a problem only if  these 5G networks come up near meteorological sites.

GSMA, the organisation that represents mobile network operators believes that 5G services and weather forecasting services can co-exist.

*meteorologists  :scientists who study the atmosphere and its many changes

*Federal Communications Commission: U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in U.S. territories

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US meteorologists* have warned that 5G mobile data networks could disrupt signals from weather satellites. A group of scientific bodies have written a letter to […]

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