Charlotte, Raleigh, and Oklahoma City Next To Be Named to Get Mobile 5G Network This Year, Joining Dallas, Atlanta and Waco

AT&T Also Announces Additional Network Updates

AT&T* plans to begin introducing mobile 5G to customers in a dozen cities this year, and today we’re adding Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C. and Oklahoma City as the next three identified cities for our buildout. These cities will join our previously announced cities of Dallas, Atlanta, and Waco. 

We’re deliberately launching with a mix of big and mid-sized cities. One competitor recently boasted “New York matters more than Waco” when discussing their future plans. We politely disagree – all Americans should have access to next-gen connectivity to avoid a new digital divide.

“No company in the world is better at building networks than AT&T. It’s why we’re building America’s first mobile 5G network as well as FirstNet, the country’s nationwide public safety broadband platform dedicated to first responders,” said Melissa Arnoldi, president, AT&T Technology & Operations. “We’re on track to launch the first mobile 5G services and deliver the first device to customers this year. 5G will be more than just a better network. Especially after our trial learnings with large enterprises, small-and-medium sized businesses and residential locations the past two years, we believe 5G will ultimately create a world of new economic opportunity, greater mobility, and smarter connectivity for individuals, businesses and society as a whole.”

“In a global, interconnected economy, access to the most advanced technology is vital for creating jobs and driving economic growth that benefits everyone in a community,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “Access to 5G technology can make a genuine difference in the lives of families and help assure that Charlotte continues to be such a great place to live, work and play.”

“Raleigh is a center of innovation and research,” said Raleigh mayor Nancy McFarlane. “Being on the forefront of technology, like AT&T’s mobile 5G, is a great for both residents and business.”

“Our residents and our businesses always desire further private sector investment in technology infrastructure, and being a city on the cutting edge is something we can and do pitch to job creators,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.  “This 5G deployment in OKC will help our residents and businesses take advantage of future technologies and opportunities.”

Additional Network Updates

Our foundational 5G Evolution technology is now live in more than 140 markets, reaching at least 400+ markets this year.  5G Evolution markets are locations where we’ve deployed the latest technologies that enable peak theoretical wireless speeds of at least 400 megabits per second1 on capable devices.

Also, LTE-LAA launched for AT&T in parts of 8 new markets today – Austin, Dallas, Houston, Little Rock, San Antonio, San Jose, Tampa, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, bringing us to a total of 15 markets. We previously launched LTE-LAA in parts of Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, McAllen, San Francisco, and Sacramento. With LTE-LAA, the network has peak theoretical wireless speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second2 on capable devices.

We stood with the global wireless industry when 3GPP agreed on the first set of 5G standards a few weeks ago. We’ve been conducting 5G trials in South Bend, Indiana; Waco, Texas; Austin, Texas; and Kalamazoo, Michigan. And recently, we’ve been sharing our view on 5G’s promise for both consumers and businesses.

We’re ready to be the first U.S. provider to finally bring this technology to life for people. Mobile 5G will give consumers and businesses a jumpstart into the future.

More information about our vision for 5G and the future technologies it will enable will be shared at AT&T Spark, an invite-only event exploring the future of network technology, on September 10 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in San Francisco.  

*About AT&T Communications

We help family, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to mobile video streaming, we innovate to improve lives. We have the nation’s largest and most reliable network and the nation’s best network for video streaming.** We’re building FirstNet just for first responders and creating next-generation mobile 5G. With DIRECTV and DIRECTV NOW, we deliver entertainment people love to talk about. Our smart, highly secure solutions serve over 3 million global businesses – nearly all of the Fortune 1000. And worldwide, our spirit of service drives employees to give back to their communities.

AT&T Communications is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). Learn more at att.com/CommunicationsNews.

AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at facebook.com/att and on YouTube at youtube.com/att.

© 2018 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

1 Actual speeds are lower and will vary.  See http://about.att.com/sites/broadband/performance for more information on wireless speeds.

2 Actual speeds are lower and will vary.  See http://about.att.com/sites/broadband/performance for more information on wireless speeds.

View more