AT&T's First Mobile 5G Service Will Be Available in 12 Cities Starting Friday

[Aston441]

It's important to note that spectrum isn't the only way to do wireless communication. Quantum entanglement will likely one day replace spectrum for secure, unlimited, FTL communications.

Uh... no.

 

[az431]

So can we now have unlimited data at a fraction of the price? That's all that people care about...

You'll have half the data at twice the price, but you'll be able to use it all up 4x faster.

 

[kruegdude]

Why do people say this? Faster speeds do not automatically correlate to more data used. Google maps is going to use the same amount of data, it's just going to display that data to you faster. A 300mb youtube video is still 300mb, no matter if that's being delivered to you at 4G or 5G speeds. Now if you've got crappy service and slow speeds, then you will definitely be able to consume content quicker and more of it. But the speeds we have aren't really stopping people from consuming their data. Ridiculous argument for the most part.

I think their point was that the amount of data you get for $70 is so low that at 5G speeds you will reach that cap faster.

 

[linkmaster02]

I'm not really convinced that 5G speeds server any purpose for what most people do. 4G LTE handles everything just fine, why do I need substantially faster speed? Email? No. Web browsing? No. Streaming music and movies? Nope. None of these benefit from faster than LTE speeds. And if the carriers are only going to dole out their data in small buckets for high prices, there goes any excitement I might have about 5G...

That kind of thinking is so limiting and has consistently proven to be shortsighted in the past. Better technology allows us to do more amazing things. Just look at the technology we have today! Inconceivable not too long ago.

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

A misleading article.

The NetGear Nighthawk is simply a "5G Evolution" Mobile Wi-Fi Router in puck form-factor.

The puck only offers WiFi connections:

1. Customer Facing: Up to 20 Wi-Fi streams, either 2.4GHz or 5Ghz
2. Provider Facing: 5G Evolution, not 5G, with downrating to 4G
3. Mobility: puck-sized footprint with 24-hour battery
4. Capacity-limited: Heavily clipped by monthly plan caps.

This is certainly not a replacement for fixed broadband internet to the home.
Just a mobile puck for internet connectivity of last resort.

 

[Bigsk8r]

Waco and San Antonio, but not Austin? Lame.

Austin is the capitol, the biggest destination city in the region, and home to 5th largest university population in North America.

Maybe they were worried the network couldn't handle the traffic load right away...

 

[Eorlas]

This isn't going to be well adopted for at least a couple of years, so I'm not all that concerned Apple won't do anything with it for a while. I think more solid coverage by the telecom companies is more important than faster speeds....

 

[wdwpsu]

5G/4G/3G.. How about the ability to make a phone call, AT&T. Soo many dead zones still in my very populous area. I've used "Mark the Spot" so many times and it's made no difference.

 

[shareef777]

Prepare for a sudden increase in brain cancer and psychological problems in these areas.

Hmm, I’ve only heard that meaningless and baseless statement with practically EVERY wireless technology.

100% of people with cancer have drank water and ate food. Might want to avoid those cancer causing items while you’re at it!

 

[sirozha]

AT&T today announced that it has launched its first mobile 5G service in parts of 12 cities across the United States, but 5G connectivity won't be available until Friday, when its 5G device launches.

5G connectivity has rolled out in Atlanta, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; New Orleans, Louisiana; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; and Waco, Texas.

In these areas, customers who sign up as early adopters will be able to use the 5G service with a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot. AT&T's 5G offering provides 5G connectivity speeds using mmWave spectrum, which is faster than LTE.

AT&T plans to start out with a small, limited launch in dense urban areas where mmWave works best, but promises that customers will see enhancements in "coverage, speeds and devices" over time. AT&T president Andre Fuetsch says that the company is "ready to learn fast and continually iterate" in the coming months.

During the first half of 2019, AT&T plans to expand its mobile 5G coverage to parts of additional cities that include Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose.

AT&T's Nighthawk Mobile 5G Hotspot plus 5GB of data will be available to "select businesses and consumers" at no cost for at least 90 days. Starting in the spring, customers will be able to get the device for $499 upfront and 15GB of data for $70 per month on a compatible plan.

The first Android smartphones able to take advantage of 5G networks are expected to come out in 2019, but rumors suggest Apple will not adopt support for 5G networks until at least 2020, giving the new technology time to mature.

Along with AT&T, other carriers are embracing 5G technology. Verizon, for example, launched its 5G home broadband service in October, with mobile 5G service to follow.

Article Link: AT&T's First Mobile 5G Service Will Be Available in 12 Cities Starting Friday

This is a stupid plan and a stupid Data cap for that much money. Who needs this crap?
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5G/4G/3G.. How about the ability to make a phone call, AT&T. Soo many dead zones still in my very populous area. I've used "Mark the Spot" so many times and it's made no difference.

No one makes voice calls anymore.
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1G networks launches. Random people with nothing but a rudimentary grasp of biology or physics: "This will cause cancer!" -No such thing has happened.

2G networks launches. Random people with nothing but a rudimentary grasp of biology or physics: "This will cause cancer!" -No such thing has happened.

Home WIFI networks launches. Random people with nothing but a rudimentary grasp of biology or physics: "This will cause cancer!" -No such thing has happened.

3G networks launches. Random people with nothing but a rudimentary grasp of biology or physics: "This will cause cancer!" -No such thing has happened.

4G networks launches. Random people with nothing but a rudimentary grasp of biology or physics: "This will cause cancer!" -No such thing has happened.

5G networks launches. Random people with nothing but a rudimentary grasp of biology or physics: "This will cause cancer!" -Gee, I wonder.

What do you mean no such thing happened. How do you know?

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

So can we now have cancer and pay them for giving it to us??

 

[Heineken]

It's important to note that spectrum isn't the only way to do wireless communication. Quantum entanglement will likely one day replace spectrum for secure, unlimited, FTL communications.

This is not how quantum entanglement works.

 

[msama]

How fast is this? Like if I'm on 5g and do a speedtest what am I realistically gonna get?

10x (in theory) of 4g

 

[69Mustang]

AT&T plans to expand its mobile 5G coverage to parts of additional cities that include Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose.

Interesting that the less regulated most business friendly states get it now, while heavily regulated unfriendly places like California and New York do not.

California is just second in line instead of first.

 

[justperry]

Wonder how fast you could burn through that data with the increased speeds.

I have 1 Gb fiber, that will take about 3 minutes, if this 5G is as fast it will burn through that data in mere minutes.
But, normally one won't change his/her internet behaviour so it makes little difference.

 

[Kanyay]

Is the city of England on the list?

 

[GoodWheaties]

Here's a fantastic dive into what 5G means for phones in 2019. The millimeter wave tech that provides the 5G speeds will get blocked by rain etc. and is a much shorter range than 4G and it doesn't penetrate structures - probably only see true 5G (millimeter wave) in big cities. In the mean time 4G will keep getting better (and that's what you want on your phone).

This is from the Android specialist on Ars Technica - his view is in the title of the article. The pictures showing what's required to go from 4G to 5G in the 1st Gen smartphones hardware and its implications for cost and reduced space for batteries is amazing.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/12/dont-buy-a-5g-smartphone-at-least-not-for-a-while/

5G is not only on millimeter wave spectrum. I had thought that initially as well, but it will also be on the same frequencies that 2G, 3G, and 4G are currently on as well as millimeter wave.

 

[Ultramove69]

This is so incredibly stupid. “Hey here’s faster than LTE, but only until you hit 15GB!” So how is this better, you can hit the threshold faster? I can stream any streaming service without delays today on my iPhone XS Max, where are the advantages of 5G in this context?

 

[sirozha]

This is so incredibly stupid. “Hey here’s faster than LTE, but only until you hit 15GB!” So how is this better, you can hit the threshold faster? I can stream any streaming service without delays today on my iPhone XS Max, where are the advantages of 5G in this context?

Only for downloading large files if you are not a business.

 

[falainber]

Here's a fantastic dive into what 5G means for phones in 2019. The millimeter wave tech that provides the 5G speeds will get blocked by rain etc. and is a much shorter range than 4G and it doesn't penetrate structures - probably only see true 5G (millimeter wave) in big cities. In the mean time 4G will keep getting better (and that's what you want on your phone).

This is from the Android specialist on Ars Technica - his view is in the title of the article. The pictures showing what's required to go from 4G to 5G in the 1st Gen smartphones hardware and its implications for cost and reduced space for batteries is amazing.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/12/dont-buy-a-5g-smartphone-at-least-not-for-a-while/

This article was written by someone who has no clue about 5G and you are repeating his stupid claims. Read the comments for useful info. There you will read that 5G is not limited to mm wave tech. It will also work at the same frequencies LTE works now (not all). BTW, locally on Ars Ron (the author) is more known as Samsung hater than Android expert. Besides Android has nothing to do with 5G so, sa I said, he has no expertise on the matter. He is just repeating some common misconceptions about 5G that he probably read on Apple-centric forums.

 

[GhostRaider]

5G is suppose to bring faster internet speeds and more bandwidth. So, on paper, I'd expect telecommunication companies like ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile to increase data caps, or at least, completely remove them.

But no, it's the exact same thing that we have now. Same data caps, increased prices, no improvement in coverage. So, jokes on us basically.

 

[alphaod]

I'm confused... so I can't use my $20 unlimited hotspot plan on this device?

 

[thomas040]

Am I reading that right on the screenshot? 15GB??? What good is a Ferrari that can go from 0-60 in 2 seconds, if you can only drive 20 feet?
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5G is suppose to bring faster internet speeds and more bandwidth. So, on paper, I'd expect telecommunication companies like ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile to increase data caps, or at least, completely remove them.

But no, it's the exact same thing that we have now. Same data caps, increased prices, no improvement in coverage. So, jokes on us basically.

what's the point of making it faster then? I mean, yeah sure your emails will come in even faster now, but if you start using that speed for anything sensible, you'll run out.
Might as well just pretend it's the old 256Kbit days.

 

[kl4d4]

Looks like a waste of time mostly... we improved sports on tv! You can see in VR now...... thanks?

 

[Heineken]

Speed doesn't matter anymore as long as you have limit on data amount. It's just a new thing to convince you to upgrade, to buy new modems, new phones. LTE would be plenty enough if it would have a decent coverage.