Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. HOMEPAGE

AT&T hits milestone in 5G lab tests

5G Chart
BII

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence Apps and Platforms Briefing subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

AT&T, the second-largest mobile operator in the US, announced Monday that its 5G data tests are hitting speeds in excess of 10Gbps.

The company is trialing the new wireless technology in conjunction with mobile tech company Nokia throughout the US, including Texas, New Jersey, and California. Initial results show positive signs for AT&T, as it attempts to get its networks up to speed for an expected consumer rollout by 2020.    

But AT&T isn’t alone in testing 5G network speeds, nor is it ahead of the race. Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam told audiences at Business Insider’s Ignition conference last year that the company would begin piloting its 5G network in early 2016 with hopes of launching in 2017.

The early rollout of 5G networks would enable a more rapid increase in mobile data usage and content consumption, particularly since 5G technology is specifically tailored to mobile video, according to McAdam. 

The excitement over 5G is in the potential that it will be far more advanced than the current network standard, 4G. Some of the key improvements include:

  • Speeds up to 100 times faster than the fastest 4G LTE standard currently available, according to Chinese mobile giant Huawei.
  • Upward of 1,000 times the capacity of 4G, which could reduce the need for mobile operators to throttle the speed of a data connection.
  • And a reduction in latency, or the amount of time it takes for data to be sent from a connected device and back to the same device, according to Next Generation. Reduced latency is key for time-sensitive connected devices, like an automated car applying brakes.

Nevertheless, there are still a number of hurdles operators need to deal with before 5G is ready for consumers. These include infrastructure costs, ensuring that there are enough 5G-compatible devices on the market, and guaranteeing there's enough free spectrum available to support the rapid growth in data usage expected as a result of 5G adoption. It's worth noting that this time last year most of the industry expected consumer rollout of 5G in 2020 at the earliest.

 

The battle for 5G is one of the frontiers in the goingoing wireless carrier war, which T-Mobile transformed in 2013 with the launch of its Un-Carrier movement. Now, the four major U.S. wireless carriers are all jockerying for position.

Will McKitterick, senior research analyst for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on wireless carriers that examines how the wireless industry has fundamentally changed since carriers began aggressively responding to the launch of T-Mobile’s “Un-Carrier” movement. It also looks at the factors underpinning changes in the broader wireless industry and the challenges carriers face in 2016 and beyond, including the upcoming spectrum auction and the deployment of new wireless technologies.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

  • Consumers are actually becoming more loyal to their current wireless operator even as competition between the carriers intensifies.
  • The wireless carriers are not only battling over device financing, they’re also trying to woo consumers through attractive data packages.
  • Intensified competition between carriers has lengthened the smartphone replacement cycle, posing a challenge for mobile software developers and handset makers.
  • With phone subscriber growth stagnating, carriers will look to alternative sources of revenue, including connected cars, tablets, and IoT devices, to drive growth.
  • The upcoming spectrum auction, the latest ruling on net neutrality, and new technology, will change the face of the broader wireless industry in next few years.

In full, the report:

  • Examines the impact of T-Mobile’s Un-Carrier movement on the wireless industry.
  • Forecasts how the death of the two-year contract will impact the broader mobile industry.
  • Identifies how carriers are helping facilitate the growth of mobile video consumption.
  • Explains the changing nature of subscriptions and the growing importance of connected devices.
  • Discusses what changes and challenges the wireless industry will face over the next five years.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:

  1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
  2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the wireless carrier war.

Mobile Verizon Apps and Platforms
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account