Telecom
How 5G Could Make a Mess of a Flight
If certain not-yet-activated 5G phone frequencies don’t stay in airplane mode, the Unites States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is prepared to hang up on some flights in January.
This was contained in a article carried by written by Rob Pegoraro in USA TODAY.
According to the article, the regulatory agency (FAA)announced early in December that possible interference with aircraft radio altimeters from upcoming C-Band cell-site transmitters would require it to prohibit pilots from relying on those instruments to track their altitude above the ground near particular airports.
Or in plainer language than that of this FAA Airworthiness Directive: If bad weather means pilots can’t see a runway near those cell sites after AT&T and Verizon light up C-Band frequencies January 5, expect them to land elsewhere. Or not take off at all.
“You’ll be forced to divert the flight to an airport that is not 5G-covered,” said Robert Mann, president of the aviation-industry consulting firm R.W. Mann. & Co. “Or you’ll have to not dispatch the plane.”
But while we won’t know which flights might get an FAA veto until the agency issues NOTAMs (“Notice to Air Missions”) naming airports, the weather allows forecasts. John Cox, a retired US Airways pilot who writes USA TODAY’s Ask the Captain column, said the D.C.-to-Boston megalopolis and the Pacific Northwest were especially at risk of cascading interruptions.
“The whole Northeast Corridor can be down when you have the right fog conditions,” he said. “The other one that concerns me is the Northwest: Seattle, Portland, those areas where the fog is a matter of routine.”
The actual risk of interference remains unclear. As the FAA directive notes, the 3.7-3.98 GHz frequencies for which AT&T and Verizon paid $23 and $45 billion early this year don’t overlap radio altimeters’ 4.2-4.4 GHz frequencies. Some models of altimeter might get confused anyway by adjacent signals–but we still don’t know which ones.
The FAA says bandwidth recently assigned to 5G can interfere with a plane’s radio altimeter, which uses radio frequencies to help determine how close a plane is to the ground when it’s coming in for a landing. © mikulas1/Getty Images The FAA says bandwidth recently assigned to 5G can interfere with a plane’s radio altimeter, which uses radio frequencies to help determine how close a plane is to the ground when it’s coming in for a landing.
“There’s no excuse for the FAA’s delay in its survey of existing altimeter models,” complained Harold Feld, senior vice president at the tech-policy nonprofit Public Knowledge, who wrote last month that this research should have started a year ago.
AT&T and Verizon already pushed back their C-Band launches – which will fill a gap in their 5G networks compared to T-Mobile, which already offers fast “midband” 5G on 2.5 GHz frequencies – and in November agreed to reduce C-Band signals’ power for six months.
The wireless-industry trade group CTIA also points to successful C-Band 5G deployments in dozens of other countries, but the FAA directive notes that regulators elsewhere require “temporary technical, regulatory, and operational mitigations.”
The Air Line Pilots Association supports the agency; union spokesperson Corey Kuhn emailed a list of those mitigations, most featuring much tighter restrictions on C-Band power. For example, in November Canada announced limits on C-Band power around airports and a ban on C-Band cell sites closer to runways; implementing those rules here would leave many AT&T and Verizon subscribers with lesser 5G service.
Cox defended the FAA’s caution: “Just to categorically say, ‘Oh, it’ll be okay, we think,’ that is not consistent with the way we’ve conducted aviation safety.”
The FAA directive does invite airlines to certify that they’ve tested their equipment against C-Band interference, although Mann noted that replacing susceptible altimeters would demand extra testing and certification: “It’s more than just plugging in a new radio altimeter.”
Feld, however, said airline self-certification represents the most likely solution because airlines will take the heat for flight interruptions.
“If people’s flights are delayed, they’re not going to blame Verizon and AT&T,” he said. “They’re going to blame Southwest Airlines and Delta.”
Rob Pegoraro is a tech writer based out of Washington, D.C. To submit a tech question, email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com. Follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro.
Osa Director, Lagos-based lawyer and veteran journalist, has asked a federal high court to dissolve the board of MTN Nigeria, accusing the telecom giant of industry capture, undue dominance and influence peddling.
Osa Director, Lagos-based lawyer and veteran journalist,
In suit No. FHC/L/CS/1413/24 filed at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, Osa, via an originating summons, is seeking the court to dissolve the board of MTN.
He is accusing the telecommunications company of industry capture, undue dominance and influence peddling with the way and manner it cleverly filled its board with men and women with regulatory agency experience and reach.
“The board of MTN being occupied by individuals who have a history of regulatory oversight, taxation authority and pensions will undermine the integrity of our various institutions and create room for influence peddling and regulatory capture, he averred in his affidavit.
According to the pro democracy activist and author of Suicide Journalism, he is compelled to file the suit as a corporate governance expert and for his commitment to ensuring fair play and equal opportunities for all the players in the telecommunications sector.
In the process filed at the court, Osa is seeking the court to dissolve the board of MTN because it deliberately populated it with persons that have industry regulatory experience in the telecommunications and auxiliary sector.
For example, he argued that Engineer Ernest Ndukwe, who is the current chairman of the MTN board, was the pioneer Executive Vice Chairman of the National Communication Commission (NCC) which was a licensor and chief regulator of MTN.
Also, Mrs Ifueko Omogui Okauro, another director on the board of MTN, was the pioneer Chief Executive of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) between 2004 and 2012.
During the said period, MTN was found guilty of engaging in tax evasion to the tune of $ 72.5 million.
Mrs Omobola Johnson, pioneer minister of Communication Technology, is a board member of MTN.
The ministry is responsible for performing oversight functions over MTN.
Similarly, Alhaji Mohammad K. Ahmad, pioneer Director General and Chief Executive of National Pension Commission (Pencom), completes the circle of persons with regulatory agency experience who are on the board of MTN.
Such a constituted board gives undue dominance and advantage to MTN. Indeed, it amounts to influence peddling and industry capture.
Therefore, the relief sought by the Plaintiff is a declaration that the appointments of the affected officers to the board of MTN contravenes universally acceptable corporate governance practices.
Therefore, the court should grant an order nullifying their appointments. A perpetual injunction restraining the affected persons, their servants, agents and or privies from either further appointing or accepting any such appointment.
The Plaintiff is also requesting the court to mandate the affected persons to refund benefits, monetary or otherwise, already received by them by their appointments.
A cost of Fifty Million Naira is demanded to be awarded against the defendants.
The matter came for hearing on Tuesday, 11th March 2025 and has elicited the interest and attention of many Nigerians interested in corporate governance.
The Plaintiff’s lead counsel is a pro democracy activist, Prince Ademola Adewale, while MTN is represented by Fabian Ajogwu, SAN. The matter is before Justice Dipeolu.
Hayatu Hadejia and Seltrix Limited have responded to the lawsuit filed against them by Abubakar Funtua, son of the late business mogul Isa Funtua, over the ownership of 9Mobile, telecom firm.
As per report by Premium Times, Funtua filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the ownership and control of Emerging Markets Telecommunications Limited, which operates under the brand name 9Mobile.
Among other defendants, he sued Theophilus Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff, along with his company, LH Telecommunication Limited.
Others joined in the suit are Seltrix Limited (named as the 1st defendant), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr Hadejia, Teleology Nigeria Limited, and Mohammed Edewor, a director at Teleology Nigeria Limited.
The plaintiff asked the court to declare he is the beneficial owner of the 43 million ordinary shares held in trust for him by the 1st defendant, Seltrix Limited, in the capital of the 3rd defendant, Teleology Nigeria Limited.
Another prayer sought by the plaintiff is a declaration that the acquisition of the 43million ordinary shares purportedly transferred or surrendered to the 3rd defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) in breach of the 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited)’s duty as trustee of the plaintiff and in contravention of Clause 48 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited) is null, void and of no effect.
“That the purported registration of the transfer by way of surrender/gift of 43,000,000 ordinary shares held by 1st defendant (Seltrix Limited) in the capital of the 3rd defendant (Teleology Nigeria Limited) is unlawful, null and void,” the plaintiff stated.
But in a counter-affidavit sworn to and filed on behalf of Seltrix Limited, Hadejia described the plaintiff’s application as a reckless abuse of the court process.
He urged the court to dismiss the application and award substantial costs against the plaintiff.
Challenging Funtua, he demanded concrete evidence of any trusteeship arrangement involving him or Seltrix Limited concerning the alleged N43 million ordinary shares in the capital of the third defendant, Teleology Nigeria Limited, or any matter related to the suit.
Hadejia stated that the plaintiff’s motion, dated 27 January but filed on 28 January, was a fabrication designed to mislead the court.
Hadejia also denied holding in trust the controversial N43 million ordinary shares of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services (EMTS)—the holder and operator of the 9Mobile telecommunications licence—on behalf of Mr Funtua.
Similarly, Teleology Nigeria Limited, Mr Edewor, Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited, LH Telecommunication Limited), and Mr Danjuma filed a joint notice of preliminary objection calling on the court to throw out the suit.
They sought an order dismissing the suit for lack of jurisdiction and another order declaring that the plaintiff’s action constituted an abuse of court process.
Credit: Premium Times
Zoho Corporation, a global technology company, today announced the launch of Projects Plus, a flexible, collaborative new platform providing data and intelligence-driven project management for mid-sized and large organisations.
Through native integration of four key Zoho applications—Projects, WorkDrive, Analytics, and Sprints—Projects Plus enables asynchronous collaboration, seamless file management, real-time business intelligence, and Agile or Waterfall workflows.
Zoho Projects has seen rapid growth, doubling its revenue in 2024, with 55% of new users migrating from Microsoft Projects and JIRA.
Projects Plus builds on this success by focussing on better data democratisation, AI-powered insights, hybrid project management, and collaborative work management.
As 18% of enterprise customers deployed both Zoho Projects and Zoho Analytics, Projects Plus directly addresses these needs by consolidating the two, and more, into a singular, efficient solution.
“The surge in digitalisation across the nation and the hybrid work culture have necessitated project management tools to be well ingrained in the overall software architecture of an organisation. With Projects Plus, which can be easily customised and integrated with other apps, we have brought together key tools like analytics, file management and collaboration, and the option to use blended project management methodologies, creating a value-packed offering not yet available in the market.
“Furthermore, Projects Plus synthesises the latest AI-driven tools, data-first analytics, and privacy-focused protections into software that anticipates the evolving needs of international enterprise organisations, expanding Zoho’s global reach,” said Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria.
Business Intelligence Leading to Project Democratisation
The shift toward Data-Driven Project Management (DDPM) is transforming how organisations make decisions. Instead of relying on intuition, businesses can now leverage real-time data and analytics to drive efficiency. Projects Plus captures insights across multiple dimensions—including time tracking, budgeting, task completion, and deliverability metrics—helping teams make smarter, data-backed decisions.
Predictive analysis plays a crucial role in this approach, using historical data to forecast risks, estimate project timelines, and anticipate resource needs. By analysing past trends, businesses can proactively plan and mitigate risks before they impact project success. Progress tracking has also evolved beyond traditional static tools like Gantt charts. With real-time dashboards, project managers now have dynamic, up-to-date insights that provide a comprehensive view of project status, allowing them to identify and address bottlenecks as they arise.
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