The second largest mobile operator in the US, AT&T has unveiled its 5G roadmap to bring customers the next-generation of super-fast wireless connectivity. Technologies such as millimeter wave, network function virtualization (NFV), and software-defined networking (SDN) will be among the key ingredients for future 5G experiences, said AT&T.
AT&T will collaborate with Ericsson and Intel to work on 5G solutions in its labs starting in the second quarter of this year, with outdoor tests and trials over the summer with field trials to provide wireless connectivity to fixed locations in Austin before the end of this year.
AT&T expects its 5G network to deliver speeds between 10 and 100 times faster than 4G, with significantly less lag between tapping a button and getting the network to play a video, download a song or search for a local restaurant.
At the same time, AT&T which announced its SDN strategy in 2014 with plans to virtualize 75% of its network by 2020, claims that it has exceeded its first major milestone by virtualizing 5.7% last year. This year, AT&T said it targets to accelerate the network virtualization to 30%.
John Donovan, Chief Strategy Officer and Group President, AT&T Technology and Operations
New experiences like virtual reality, self-driving cars, robotics, smart cities and more are about to test networks like never before. 5G will reach its full potential because we will build it on a software-centric architecture that can adapt quickly to new demands and give customers more control of their network services.
Arun Bansal, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Unit Radio, Ericsson
5G will impact the entire mobile network – from devices to access and core to cloud – and open up exciting new IoT applications for consumers and industry
