AT&T previously announced half of the 12 cities that will be getting 5G mobile service before the end of 2018. Now, the company’s CEO has shared that it will be the first US carrier to offer standards-based 5G by launching the service “in the next few weeks.”
Spotted by Phone Scoop (via The Verge), AT&T CEO John Donovan shared the news in the company’s earnings call today.
Donovan made the distinction about it being a 3GPP standards-based 5G mobile rollout for AT&T as Verizon launched its 5G home internet service earlier this month, but it’s not a quite a true 5G service. The company is planning to upgrade its next-gen cellular home internet with the 5G NR system in the future that’s backed by the mobile standards group 3GPP.
AT&T’s true 5G mobile service rollout should start in the coming weeks and includes Dallas, Atlanta, Waco, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Oklahoma City. Six more cities remain unnamed for now that will also see 5G in the next two months.
While AT&T will likely win the race to launch the new cellular service, there are hardly any smartphones that can use it (no support on iPhone XS or XR). Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint are all expected to launch their mobile 5G coverage next year.
- AT&T names three more of the dozen cities to get mobile 5G this year
- After AT&T, Sprint names the first six US cities to get 5G
- T-Mobile to offer self-installation for 5G home broadband, aims to cover 50% of zip codes by 2024
