Comment (2)The first live commercial 5G markets are still months away, with widespread rollout of the new wireless technology not expected until 2019 or 2020, yet we have a clearer picture of the big four US mobile operators' 5G plans than we did at the end of 2017.
So let's run through what we know:
AT&T What: Mobile 5G using the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G New Radio (NR) standard, with fixed 5G in trials Where: 12 as yet unnamed markets in the US When: Late 2018 Frequencies: TBD Suppliers (known so far): Qualcomm Devices: A mobile "puck" Capex plan for 2018: $23 billion
For more: AT&T Joins 5G Marketing War, Promising 'Mobile' Launch in 2018 AT&T's 'Mobile' 5G: What the Puck? AT&T's Mobile 5G Plan Leaves as Many Questions as Answers
Sprint What: Mobile 5G using the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G New Radio (NR) standard Where: "Nationwide" with a software upgrade to "5G-ready" equipment When: First half of 2019 Frequencies: 2.5GHz Suppliers (known so far): Ericsson, Qualcomm Devices: Smartphones Capex plan for 2018: $5 billion-$6 billion
For more: Sprint Promises Mobile 5G in H1 2019, Signals More Job Cuts Sprint Teams Up with Cox to Boost Spectrum With Fiber Sprint Says No to mmWave, Yes to Mobile 5G
T-Mobile US What: Mobile 5G using the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G New Radio (NR) standard Where: "Nationwide" with a software upgrade to "5G-ready" equipment When: 2019-2020 Frequencies: 600MHz Suppliers (known so far): Ericsson, Qualcomm Devices: Smartphones Capex plan for 2018:$4.9 billion-$5.3 billion
For more: T-Mobile CEO: We'll 'Leapfrog' AT&T & Verizon With Mobile 5G T-Mobile Promises 'Nationwide' 5G in 2020 With New Spectrum T-Mobile Says Its 600MHz LTE Sites Will Be 5G-Ready
Verizon What: Fixed 5G using its home-grown 5GTF spec first, with 5G using the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G New Radio (NR) standard as soon as possible afterwards Where: Sacramento, with up to four more markets to follow in 2018 When: Second half of 2018 Frequencies: 28GHz Suppliers (known so far): Ericsson, Samsung, Qualcomm Devices: 5G customer premises equipment and home routers Capex plan for 2018: $17 billion-$17.8 billion
For more: Verizon Says 'Up to 5' Fixed 5G Markets Will Go Live in 2H18 Ericsson & Samsung to Supply Verizon With Fixed 5G Gear Verizon Capex to Stay Flat Despite Commercial 5G Launch in 2018
What does this mean in the real world? The initial phase of 5G will be focused on "enhanced mobile broadband," which essentially means it'll be like 4G, but better, wherever you can get it. Verizon is focused on delivering a 1Gbit/s service but this will likely only be available in very limited areas to begin with. Sprint and T-Mobile, meanwhile, are talking up the coverage possibilities of their spectrum, but won't be able to match the raw speed of millimeter wave 5G, which Verizon has taken to calling "true 5G."
— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading
