Climate Changed
Power and Tech Giants Fight Over Airwaves Space in the U.S.
- Power companies say they need the frequency to monitor grid
- Apple, Facebook and others say it’s key for developing 5G
Storm surge near Lake Pontchartrain after Tropical Storm Barry hit in Louisiana in July.
Photographer: Nicole Craine/Bloomberg
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As tropical storm Barry roared ashore in Louisiana last month, Entergy Corp. monitored the electric grid using airwaves that have long been reserved for utilities and first responders.
Those secure, wireless signals helped the company manage outages, even while winds of up to 65 miles (105 kilometers) per hour lashed the region. But as the world becomes increasingly wireless, U.S. regulators plan to open more of those airwaves to tech companies.