The use of the C-band for 5G has raised concerns in the aviation industry regarding possible interference with aircraft radio altimeters.Â
Radio altimeters are designed to generate data for other safety equipment on the plane, including navigation instruments, terrain awareness, and collision-avoidance systems. These sensitive avionic devices could be susceptible to RF interference, creating concern that they might provide wrong readings or not function at all.Â
The effects of interference are diverse, ranging from 5G Multi-Carrier Operations to Open Fronthaul and Cybersecurity Concerns.
One thing is certain: aviation safety cannot be compromised, and all risk should be diligently minimized.
Detect. Mitigate. Prevent.
To minimize risk, potential effects of interference can be detected and mitigated through testing and adjusting 5G networks’ influence on RADALT systems prior to live deployment.
VIAVIÂ offers a comprehensive testbed for verification, monitoring, and optimization of both 5G RF and Avionics systems, based on its history of testing both wireless and avionics equipment for communication service providers, airlines, military branches, and equipment manufacturers worldwide.
What is C-band
C-band is a designation by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) for the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum used for satellite communications, terrestrial microwave radio, and other industrial applications.
C-band frequency range is a component of the larger 3.3 - 4.2 GHz mid-band spectrum, where the frequencies repurposed specifically for 5G wireless range from 3.7 GHz  – 3.98 GHz.
C-Band is a popular term mostly used in the United States. Other countries, among which many European ones, have been using the lower part of the mid-band range for 5G channels in their early commercial rollouts, while the US has recently started adopting the higher part, which is the actual C-band (3.7 GHz to 3.98 GHz).
C-band is an excellent spectrum for 5G, because it provides an outstanding balance between bandwidth and coverage, with the throughput needed to enable 5G specific use cases like enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB).
In respect to potential interference between 5G radio frequencies and radar altimeters, it would occur in a very narrow band of radio frequency, one that is technically not even part of the C-band being utilized by communication service providers. Nevertheless, there is potential for interference from the edges of these bands.
What is a Radio Altimeter
Radio Altimeter (RADALT) – sometimes called radar altimeter– uses radio waves to measure an aircraft’s altitude above the terrain. The above ground level (AGL) altitude of the aircraft is measured by transmitting a radio frequency (RF) energy beam down to the ground and receiving a portion of this energy back through reflection from the terrain or other obstacles. In addition to providing ongoing altitude data to the cockpit, an aircraft radio altimeter is requisite for instrument landings, ground proximity warning systems (GPWS), and the low-altitude, low-visibility flight operations that are instrumental to military aviation. Radio Altimeters operate in the 4.2-4.4 GHz band.
Safety concerns
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that the new 5G technology could interfere with instruments such as radio altimeters. Aircraft altimeters operate in frequencies of 4.2-4.4 GHz, and 5G networks use frequencies in the 3.7-3.98 GHz range.
Why is this now a big concern, since the spectrum below 3.98 GHz was already used by point-to-point and satellite-based services with no impact on RADALTs?
The difference today is in the number and density of the transmitting stations. 5G transmitters using C-Band spectrum are being deployed in more base stations and in larger numbers of user equipment, both on the ground and in or around air traffic control surfaces. The higher density of these base stations and user equipment, plus their effective radiated power and potential proximity to aircraft, increase the risk of interference with an aircraft’s RADALT.
Example of 5G leakage and spurious verification with the OneAdvisor 800
Addressing the noise between 5G and Airline Operations
Aviation safety cannot be compromised. Industry players must separate theory from reality in terms of risks, especially when it comes to the complex and dynamic nature of 5G. Testing and adjusting 5G networks’ influence on RADALT systems before live deployment can help detect and mitigate potential interference.
VIAVI Testbed for Airlines and 5G
VIAVI has established a testbed consisting of:
ALT-9000
The VIAVI ALT-9000: provides altitude simulations with true RF time delay and path loss models to test any type of RADALT system, including Low Probability of Intercept (LPI), Combined Altitude Radar Altimeter (CARA) & Next Generation variants. The ALT-9000 is instrumental in enabling rigorous test procedures and workflows to assess, evaluate, and monitor the RADALT vulnerability to any potential 5G interference.
ALT-9000 Specification:
- Fiber optic delay line based test set supports all formats of radio altimeters
- Portable ruggedized enclosure for flight line or benchtop use
- Battery operated
- Simulates static altitudes from 0* ft. to 10,000 ft. in 10 ft. steps (*minimum simulated altitude dependent upon AID and test cable length)
- +20 dB of power level offset from nominal loop loss value
- Touch-screen operation
- Direct-connect to UUT T/R or installed system via antenna couplers
OneAdvisor 800
The VIAVI OneAdvisor-800 is designed to meet the evolving needs of service providers, field technicians and contractors as they scale 5G infrastructure. OneAdvisor-800 allows cell site technicians to test fiber, RF, and CPRI/Ethernet from a single instrument, replacing multiple independent tools (OTDR, CAA, Fiber Scope) and significantly reducing the total cost of ownership.
Key Benefits
- Improved tool efficiency: Replaces multiple independent tools (i.e. OTDR, CAA, Fiber scope, etc).
- Broad coverage: Covers all radios types (LTE and 5G) and topologies (Macro-cell, Small-cell, C-RAN, and/or DAS)
- Scalable: As a team’s test responsibility grows, so can the OneAdvisor platform with modular test components
- Greater accuracy: Complete test plans exactly to the specifications of the service provider with precise measurements.
- Consistency: Test processes and workflows are defined centrally and "pushed" to test instruments, eliminating the variability of manual procedures and drives consistent, repeatable results, regardless of technician skill or experience level.
- Lower Training Costs: Training focus shifts to the test process itself, which is faster and easier to learn, rather than on technical information that is generally time-consuming and overwhelming for new technicians.
- Speed: Job Manager eliminates wasted technician time trying to remember which tests to run and how to run them
