Significant improvements in 5G connectivity are expected in the United States by the end of this year. Currently, AT&T specialists have prepared an extensive modernization plan to reach the level of their competitors.
AT&T Launches Project to Optimize 5G Network
The US telecommunications company AT&T aims to enhance the quality of its 5G networks, which will increase the popularity of wireless frequency spectrum usage. This was announced by an analyst during a corporate meeting on Friday. He reported the purchase of equipment to improve 5G connectivity and noted that extensive optimization will take place at the end of 2022.
Recently, the company acquired a significant portion of the 5G spectrum, coming in first among participants in the FCC auction. They purchased 3.45 GHz of mid-band radio waves for $9 billion. The operator reports that by the end of 2021, as a result of these acquisitions, they will be able to cover a customer network of 70-75 million subscribers. Analysts expect more than 10 million new customers to join in early 2023.
The mid-band spectrum, also known as the C-band, occupies a large area in the 5-8 GHz range. This type of connectivity is the most popular for LTE networks, as it maintains high data transfer speeds and provides coverage over a distance of 2000 km.
Globalization of the 5G Network and Competition in Technology Market
The largest telecommunications operator in the country, Verizon Communications, also held a similar analyst meeting. At the event, a unanimous decision was made to deploy the new spectrum. This will increase download speeds to 1 gigabit per second and potentially reach an audience of up to 100 million people by March next year.
It is worth noting that AT&T did not provide guaranteed speed metrics for subscribers following the 5G network upgrade during the recent official event. No new unlimited plans were presented either.
In the latest press release, AT&T did provide comments on this issue. According to company representatives, by the end of January, they will open access to 5G speeds for all tariff plans. Previously, the 5G network was only available for unlimited plans: Starter, Extra, and Elite.
Chris Samba, AT&T’s Chief Operating Officer, told CNET that they are currently working on connecting iPhone 12 and Galaxy S21 devices to the C-band network. New technologies will also extend to the Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro. In the future, the operator plans to launch a global program to connect other mobile devices to the network.
Three days after the presentation and FCC auction, AT&T representatives gave an interview to CNET. They emphasized that the Google Pixel 5 smartphones should work with the C-band version. Currently, around 70% of AT&T subscribers are already using mid-band connections. Now, high-speed internet will be available to all AT&T customers whose devices can connect to the 5G network.
Changes also affected the telecommunications company T-Mobile. On Thursday, the US operator shared its business successes. The operators stated that, thanks to the optimization of the 5G network, they have seen a mass influx of customers using the Sprint provider’s services. Positive changes have spurred the company’s growth, and a new service—broadband home internet—is expected to launch soon.
Future Plans for AT&T
Meanwhile, AT&T’s work continues. Chris Samba recently stated that his colleagues are preparing to launch a similar service, and by the end of this year, subscribers will fully experience the benefits of the C-band. The Vice President also added that they will create a combination of two types of connectivity—4G LTE and 5G. The recently acquired mid-band spectrum assets will also be put to use.
The telecommunications operator has already prepared a plan for further improving customer service. On Friday, the provider will begin expanding home broadband coverage by deploying fiber optics in over 90 urban areas.
As a result, 3 million connections are expected in 2022, with plans to create an additional 4 million access points in the following year. Furthermore, company operators have reported that a cheaper alternative to “HBO Max” will appear in the US by early summer, and the streaming service will significantly expand. It should be noted that these assets have allowed AT&T to greatly improve the quality of its services. However, it is best to draw conclusions by the end of 2022 when most of the work will be completed.