Verizon is set to launch its 5G Ultra Wideband service in 46 cities and surrounding areas across the U.S. later this month, pending ongoing negotiations with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding potential safety concerns for air traffic.

The Ultra Wideband spectrum offers significantly higher speeds and capacity compared to Verizon’s existing 5G service, as it operates on higher frequency C-band spectrum. However, these frequencies have raised concerns among aviation regulators, as some in the airline industry worry about possible interference with navigation equipment. The FAA is currently reviewing these risks. The planned rollout was previously delayed by a month and then by an additional two weeks to give the FAA more time to study the issue.

Verizon has stated its willingness to avoid installing C-band transmission equipment near airport runways for six months while the FAA conducts further evaluations. The company also announced new personal and home phone plans tailored for the 5G Ultra Wideband service, as well as business plans offering download speeds starting at 100 Mbps.

Despite the advanced capabilities of Ultra Wideband 5G, Verizon faces the challenge that only about a quarter of residents in the new coverage areas currently own devices compatible with the service. Meanwhile, competitor T-Mobile continues to expand its own high-speed 5G service using different radio spectrum that is not part of the ongoing FAA discussions.