So far AT&T has named six of 12 5G launch cities
AT&T on Friday added some detail to its commercial 5G launch plans by identifying three more cities where it will deploy a standards-based mobile service by the end of the year. Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C. and Oklahoma City, Okla., join Atlanta, Ga., and Dallas and Waco, Texas, as among the 12 markets the carrier will turn up its next-generation cellular service.
Based on the details released so far, AT&T will use a hot spot device to provide high-capacity cellular using millimeter wave spectrum. The carrier began testing millimeter wave transmissions in 2016 in Austin, Texas, and expanded testing, which included enterprises of varying sizes as well as residential housing, to other locations.
AT&T said it’s purposefully planning to launch in cities of varying sizes because “all Americans should have access to next-gen connectivity to avoid a new digital divide,” according to a statement.
In Waco, the carrier tested its service at Magnolia Market at the Silos, a business operated by HGTV Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanne Gaines. The carrier said it’s 28 GHz millimeter wave spectrum supported wireless speed around 1.2 Gbps using a 400 megahertz channel and latency rates between nine and 12 milliseconds.
Mellisa Arnoldi, president of AT&T Technology and Operations, said customers will have access to the service and device this year. “Especially after our trial learnings with large enterprises, small- and medium-sized business and residential locations the past two years, we believe 5G will ultimately create a world of new economic opportunity, greater mobility and smarter connectivity for individuals, businesses and society as a whole.”
Chief competitor Verizon also plans to launch commercial 5G services this year in three to five U.S. markets. The carrier plans to use fixed wireless access to support residential broadband, and has so far named Sacramento and Los Angeles, Calif., as launch markets.
Sprint is planning to launch in the first half of 2019 and has listed New York City, N.Y., Phoenix, Ariz., Kansas City, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Texas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Ill., and Washington D.C. as target markets. Sprint’s plans hinge on it’s 2.5 GHz spectrum holdings. The carrier is also seeking approval for a merger with T-Mobile US, which is promising to tap its nationwide 600 MHz portfolio to deliver nationwide 5G coverage.
