AT&T to Launch NarrowBand IoT Network in U.S. and Mexico

NB-IoT Will Enhance North American Network Footprint for IoT Solutions With More Choices for Businesses

AT&T* will launch NarrowBand Internet of Things (NB-IoT) to meet the growing needs of business customers for a wide range of IoT solutions. Our NB-IoT technology will complement our existing LTE-M network in the U.S. and Mexico.

NB-IoT and LTE-M are Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) technologies that support massive IoT deployments. Both NB-IoT and LTE-M are supported in licensed spectrum and with carrier-grade security.

“We’ve seen global momentum for LPWA since launching our North American LTE-M network last year,” said Chris Penrose, President, IoT Solutions, AT&T. “Adding NB-IoT to our portfolio will expand our LPWA capabilities, help drive investment in our evolution to 5G and support our customers as they deploy IoT solutions across the U.S. and Mexico.”

We plan to launch NB-IoT in the U.S. early next year, followed by Mexico by the end of 2019.

Our investment in NB-IoT and LTE-M will be future-ready. These technologies are expected to become part of the industry’s massive IoT standards.

NB-IoT and LTE-M offer longer battery life, coverage extension, and lower costs than traditional cellular LTE connectivity. NB-IoT is ideally suited to meet basic data requirements, while LTE-M provides more robust capabilities including bandwidth for firmware and software updates, mobility and VoLTE (Voice over LTE) services.

A key to increasing LPWA adoption is building a broad base of ecosystem partners, devices and applications for global markets.  The introduction of NB-IoT and LTE-M dual-mode chipsets and modules means customers can support a wide range of applications globally.

Like LTE-M, NB-IoT technology will be deployed through software upgrades at cell sites across the U.S. and Mexico. Both will operate alongside our 4G LTE network and within our mobile 5G network. Our 5G network is scheduled to launch in parts of Dallas, Atlanta and Waco, Texas, by the end of this year.

Both NB-IoT and LTE-M have clear advantages over technologies that operate in unlicensed spectrum. These include greater protections from interference, broader coverage availability and carrier-grade security.

According to GSMA, the mobile wireless operators’ association, 24 mobile operators have commercially launched 48 mobile IoT networks worldwide across both NB-IoT and LTE-M. GSMA forecasts 1.8 billion licensed LPWA connections by 2025.

AT&T switched on North America’s first LTE-M enabled commercial site in 2016 and launched our nationwide LTE-M U.S. network in the second quarter of 2017. In the fourth quarter of last year we launched our  LTE-M network  in Mexico, establishing the first North American LTE-M footprint.

Get more information here.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially.  A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this presentation based on new information or otherwise.

This press release may contain certain non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations between the non-GAAP financial measures and the GAAP financial measures are available on the company’s website at https://investors.att.com.

The “quiet period” for FCC Spectrum Auction 903 (also known as the CAF II auction) is now in effect. During the quiet period, auction applicants are required to avoid discussions of bids, bidding strategy and post-auction market structure with other auction applicants.