US cable giant Charter Communications, which trades as ‘Spectrum’, has confirmed that it is ‘actively developing and testing [5G] wireless connectivity in a growing number of markets’, including Orlando, Florida; Reno, Nevada; Clarksville, Tennessee; Columbus, Ohio; Bakersfield, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to a post on the company’s ‘Policy’ blog, the trials are utilising the 3.5GHz band.
The cableco is planning to launch a ‘Wi-Fi first’ MVNO later this year, which will also use the Verizon Wireless network. Charter seeks to leverage LTE small cells to boost connectivity, and its use of emergent 5G technology is also expected to play a part in its wider wireless ambitions.