T AT&T Inc

By Thomas Gryta 

AT&T Inc. plans to begin its first trials of fifth-generation cellular technology, or 5G, this year as wireless carriers look for higher speeds and more capacity amid the growth of mobile data usage.

Cellular networks have evolved as the use of mobile connections has changed. Originally built for voice calls, they now are largely engineered to carry Internet data. Even voice calls increasingly are being carried in the same way as Web traffic. AT&T and other U.S. carriers have spent billions upgrading their networks in recent years to 4G standards, which deliver fast speeds and improve network efficiency.

AT&T said it is working with networking-equipment company Ericsson and chip maker Intel Corp. on its 5G effort. It predicted that 5G technology will bring wireless speeds that are 10 to 100 times faster than typical 4G connections, noting that speeds will be measured in "gigabits per second, not megabits."

As part of the program, AT&T is testing fixed wireless connections--essentially providing broadband to households through the cellular network--and could make such a service commercially available by year-end. Speeds of such a service would also be in gigabits per second, the company said.

The 5G platform has gotten attention lately--rival Verizon Communications Inc. is also planning trials for this year-- but its ultimate form is still undecided. AT&T says it may have to shift its strategy when the first official 5G standards are released in 2018. Other industry observers don't expect 5G deployments to really begin until 2020.

Last month, AT&T's chief strategy officer, John Donovan, said the company has kept a low profile on 5G because it wants to keep its options open on whether it will be an early or late adopter of the platform "depending on whether we're going to optimize to speed, capacity, or cost."

AT&T has applied for an experimental license with the Federal Communications Commission to use various high-frequency bands of airwaves in Austin, Texas, for developing 5G technology. The company said it would conduct experiments using fixed stations and vehicles within 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of Austin. The filings were earlier reported by wireless engineering consultant Steven Crowley.

Write to Thomas Gryta at thomas.gryta@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 12, 2016 00:15 ET (05:15 GMT)

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