AT&T Mobility has issued a progress report regarding its 5G trial activity, claiming 1Gbps download speeds among a number of other achievements. In Kalamazoo, Michigan the telco observed download speeds in excess of 1Gbps speeds under line of sight conditions up to 900 feet. Further, AT&T reported no impacts on its 5G millimetre wave (mmWave) signal performance due to rain, snow or other ‘weather events’. In South Bend, Indiana AT&T demonstrated a full end-to-end 5G network architecture, including the 5G radio system and core, observing extremely low latency; and in Waco, Texas the 5G network successfully supported hundreds of simultaneous connected users.
Melissa Arnoldi, president of AT&T Technology & Operations, commented: ‘It’s no coincidence that AT&T is aiming to be the first US carrier to launch standards-based, mobile 5G services to customers this year. We’ve been “practicing” for this moment for almost two years. And unlike some of our competitors, we plan to offer a 5G-capable device to customers this year, too. After all, what’s the use of a highway without an on-ramp?’