AT&T is ready to do more testing in Austin, while Samsung has asked for licenses to show off its system to Verizon and, reportedly, Google.

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

August 31, 2016

2 Min Read
AT&T, Samsung & Friends Plot Crisp 5G Demos for the Fall

Get ready for a "5G Fall" as operators and their prospective vendor partners ramp up their test and trial activities, with AT&T seeking another license to test 5G indoors in Austin and Samsung reportedly planning to show off its technology to Google and Verizon.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) has asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a "1 week operational experimental license" to demo a 28GHz fixed wireless system indoors in Austin, Texas. AT&T wants to show off the fixed system -- with a range of 50 meters -- at the Texas Wireless Summit between October 15-22.

The operator has done much of its testing of early 5G systems in Austin, where it has systems in place at its labs and in the city. It's tapping Ericsson AB (Nasdaq: ERIC) and Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK) for the radio access network equipment. (See AT&T Lights Fire Under 5G, Plans 2016 Trials, AT&T Adds Nokia to 5G Trials and AT&T Wants to Start 5G Tests in Austin.)

AT&T's letter to the FCC states: "Applicant seeks authority to begin conducting these demonstrations to allow for trials before the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G standards are finalized in the 2018-2019 time period."

AT&T will not want to be upstaged by its major rival, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), which has already said it could launch 5G services ahead of official 3GPP specifications. (See 3GPP Wants to Complete Initial 5G Radio Spec in June 2018 and Verizon Updates 5G Spec, Could Launch Ahead of 3GPP.)

For all the latest news on 5G, visit the 5G site here on Light Reading.

Meanwhile, one of Verizon's key test partners, Samsung Corp. , is reportedly showing off its 28GHz system near the Californian headquarters of Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and the Basking Ridge home of Verizon. Samsung also applied to do tests in Bridgewater and Bernadsville, N.J.

In its application to the FCC, Samsung states that the licenses are intended to offer customers a chance to see the system in action. "We will be operating at low power and within a very limited area of operation," the vendor writes. It expects the demos to last into early next year.

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

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