AT&T starts actual 5G rollout in ten markets -- but without mmWave
AT&T has started the rollout of its 5G mobile network, with the carrier making the low-band version of the technology available to use in ten markets across the United States - but it can currently only be used with one smartphone model.
Just as the carrier previously teased in November, AT&T launched its genuine 5G network in the United States on Friday. The initial wave, consisting of ten markets, is said to provide 5G coverage to "millions of consumers and businesses," with further expansion anticipated in the coming months.
The ten markets served by AT&T's 5G are Birmingham, AL; Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Providence, RI; Rochester, NY; San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose, CA. In the first half of 2020, expansion of the network is planed for Boston, Bridgeport, CT; Buffalo, NY; Las Vegas, Louisville, KY; and New York City.
The rollout is for low-band 5G, which excludes mmWave. Using sub-6Ghz spectrum, the connections will be robust and wide-spread enough for normal usage, but won't offer the fast speed as promised in earlier hype for the technology.
AT&T does already offer mmWave communications, under what it calls "5G+," but in a limited fashion for "businesses and collaborators who are exploring new ways to unlock the significant performance capabilities of 5G+." While it is thought these networks will be provided to consumers in the future, AT&T hasn't offered hints as to when this will take place.
When straying outside of 5G coverage areas, customers will end up on AT&T's LTE service as well as its contentiously-named "5G Evolution," which is really an upgraded form of LTE. It became a subject of controversy after complaints its use of the 5GE logo on iPhones and other devices may have confused customers into believing their 4G LTE devices were already 5G-compatible.
To use the new 5G service, customers require a compatible smartphone. So far AT&T only provides one option: the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, which AT&T sells for $1,299.99. Customers also have to use AT&T's $75 Unlimited Extra or $85 Unlimited Elite plans to use the 5G network.
Apple is thought to be including 5G connectivity in the "iPhone 12," but customers will most likely have to wait until September 2020 before being able to use a 5G iPhone.
AT&T trails after rival T-Mobile in launching its non-mmWave 5G network. T-Mobile opened up its own version on December 2, covering more than 5,000 cities and towns in the process.
Just as the carrier previously teased in November, AT&T launched its genuine 5G network in the United States on Friday. The initial wave, consisting of ten markets, is said to provide 5G coverage to "millions of consumers and businesses," with further expansion anticipated in the coming months.
The ten markets served by AT&T's 5G are Birmingham, AL; Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Providence, RI; Rochester, NY; San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose, CA. In the first half of 2020, expansion of the network is planed for Boston, Bridgeport, CT; Buffalo, NY; Las Vegas, Louisville, KY; and New York City.
The rollout is for low-band 5G, which excludes mmWave. Using sub-6Ghz spectrum, the connections will be robust and wide-spread enough for normal usage, but won't offer the fast speed as promised in earlier hype for the technology.
AT&T does already offer mmWave communications, under what it calls "5G+," but in a limited fashion for "businesses and collaborators who are exploring new ways to unlock the significant performance capabilities of 5G+." While it is thought these networks will be provided to consumers in the future, AT&T hasn't offered hints as to when this will take place.
When straying outside of 5G coverage areas, customers will end up on AT&T's LTE service as well as its contentiously-named "5G Evolution," which is really an upgraded form of LTE. It became a subject of controversy after complaints its use of the 5GE logo on iPhones and other devices may have confused customers into believing their 4G LTE devices were already 5G-compatible.
To use the new 5G service, customers require a compatible smartphone. So far AT&T only provides one option: the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, which AT&T sells for $1,299.99. Customers also have to use AT&T's $75 Unlimited Extra or $85 Unlimited Elite plans to use the 5G network.
Apple is thought to be including 5G connectivity in the "iPhone 12," but customers will most likely have to wait until September 2020 before being able to use a 5G iPhone.
AT&T trails after rival T-Mobile in launching its non-mmWave 5G network. T-Mobile opened up its own version on December 2, covering more than 5,000 cities and towns in the process.
Comments
I'm sure, though, that the handful of people with the Note 10+ 5G will have fun running speed tests but will be disappointed when they find out it still takes 2 hours to stream a 2 hour movie! (that seems to be what everyone does, right, is watch movies on their phone?)
Mostly, it's about the future. Much like when LTE was rolled out -- only bigger.
So, who wants to pay a grand or more for a phone limited to what is now yesterday's technology -- particularly when that technology (communications) is the most critical factor of any mobile device?
The nice thing about AT&T is that you can get any answer from them that you want: You just keep calling until you get the 'right' answer because every rep will tell you something different. And, like the blind monkey, eventually they'll stumble onto the right answer.
It's such a shame: AT&T was, at one time, thought of as the epitome of American corporate quality. In the 80's when I went to work for a computer outsourcer (now called "cloud service") the president stood up and told us that our goal was to maintain the same level of service as "the telephone company" where, when you picked up the phone you got a dial tone -- always -- without exception -- 100% of the time. And, if you didn't, it was a complete shock.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
5G is being labelled another industrial revolution. It is estimated that by the end of next year there could be over 20 billion IoT 'devices' using 5G.
5G, in the longer term, will offer all of the above at a far lower cost than current LTE equipment.
The use cases cover just about everything you can think of. Southern Spain is currently piloting many use cases:
"The projects will explore dozens of 5G use cases, including agriculture, health, smart cities and territories, security and defense, society, economy and digital culture, digital transformation, and tourism. The ministry added that 10 of the use cases will involve virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR); five will focus on applications of drones; and three will explore facial recognition.
Telefónica will conduct a trial in Galicia in collaboration with a number of companies, including Ericsson, Nokia, and Spain-based Telnet. That project will have $12 million in funds and last more than 24 months. It will focus on use cases including connected cars, drones, AR, fixed wireless access, and health."
https://www.sdxcentral.com/articles/news/vodafone-and-telefonica-get-nod-for-spanish-5g-pilots/2019/05/https://mobileworldcapital.com/press/spain-at-the-forefront-of-5g-pilots-in-europe/
There will be enormous implications for end users and industry alike.
You probably haven't seen the reviews of 5G for mundane things like YouTube. Videos that have loaded instantly. Get used to that kind of response on a daily basis and even a half second delay becomes a big pain if you go back to LTE.
Security (for example through network slicing) will be far better for end users and things like online banking.
QoS. 5G offers quality of service where necessary.
As for things like streaming, don't forget that basically, streaming only exists to overcome the drawbacks of slow networks. Most people would prefer to get the entire file onboard over streaming it (space permitting).
Then you have smart city applications that go as far as your imagination. Health is another prime example where your phone will be your hub to new developments.
There are no smartphone benefits to 5G that I've seen anyone specifically articulate. The best they can do is talk about the differences in latency, connected devices, etc and then say something like "it's about the future and uses that have yet to be developed." Yet they can't articulate those uses because we evidently need a country full of 5G phones before they will be developed.
As near as I can tell, the true benefits of 5G will not be for smartphones. they will (potentially) be for other devices. Beyond that, the much of the improvements from 5G require infrastructure improvements to the internet backbone, not the modem in your phone. I think the Telecoms are hyping 5G just to get people to sign up for more expensive service so they can bankroll the upgrades.
Did you say the same going from 3G to 4G/LTE? You should have because the same rationale applies.