Three pillars of 5G bring the business
experience into the future
Businesses are leading the 5G revolution, and AT&T* is going
to give its business customers a full 5G toolbox. We’re the first
carrier to publicly lay out what we’re making available to help
businesses get the most out of this technology.
America’s 15 million businesses increasingly look to technology
to drive outcomes, but their needs range drastically – from
connecting a single location, to using networking to connect smart
facilities with the latest technologies like artificial
intelligence and mixed reality.
This is why our approach to 5G in business isn’t focused on just
one solution, but instead brings multiple pillars that reflect our
customers’ diversity and needs. Real solutions that we’re bringing
to the market today. We’re building our networks to allow
fiber-based connectivity and LTE to work efficiently in parallel
with 5G solutions, maximizing the impact of a business’s
transformation.
Our standards-based approach comes to life via 3 main service
pillars:
- Mobile 5G
- Fixed Wireless
- Edge Computing
“The 5G services we’re rolling out and combining with our
advanced network capabilities will help businesses fundamentally
change for the better,” said Mo Katibeh, CMO, AT&T Business.
“It will open up opportunities to increase revenue, reduce
operational costs, and ultimately create amazing new experiences
for employees and customers. Whether it’s a local startup, a
growing regional company, or national enterprise, these 3 pillars
are going to be groundbreaking.”
Mobile 5G
LTE ushered in the age of mobilization for the American worker.
Almost every business has employees that use mobile devices.
Whether it’s for employee communication, or for point-of-sale
devices, mobile technology is more important than ever.
It is critical that any mobile 5G experience for business allows
seamless transitions between Wi-Fi, LTE and 5G.
This is why we will deploy a standards-based nationwide mobile
5G network in early 2020. That network will allow for seamless
handoffs between Wi-Fi, LTE and 5G, virtually anywhere a business
customer may go.
So far, we’ve confirmed plans for two new 5G devices in 2019. In
addition to the NETGEAR Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot we launched in
2018, we’re working with Samsung to offer two Samsung smartphones
this year.
In the parts of the 12 cities where our standards-based mobile
5G network is live today, we’re working with businesses to create
and innovate new experiences. As we expand the network, these
businesses are helping us pave the way for the astounding impact 5G
will eventually have nationwide.
We also opened up a space within our AT&T Foundry in
Plano, Texas specifically dedicated to prototyping solutions for
industry verticals. We’ll soon be bringing 5G to this space,
allowing us to co-create 5G solutions with our customers as well as
explore the future of enterprise innovation.
Fixed Wireless
Whether it’s for primary connectivity or as a secondary
connection to enable reliability, businesses look to fixed wireless
solutions to help serve a wide range of needs, like setting up new
locations faster.
With a fixed wireless solution, a quick service restaurant could
get their point-of-sale devices working the same day they open, and
keep their devices connected even if primary connectivity is ever
interrupted.
AT&T Business now offers AT&T Wireless Broadband, which
has data options and flexibility to help meet each business’s
specific needs. In the coming weeks, we will offer multiple speed
tiers up to 50Mbps. This solution builds on our leading fiber
distribution. Nationwide, over 8 million business customer
locations sit within 1,000 feet of our fiber, and we connect nearly
2.2 million locations with fiber today.
This current fixed wireless offering helps lay the groundwork
for our customers to upgrade and take advantage of AT&T 5G when
it’s available in their area.
Edge Computing
Edge computing is expected to bring a sea-change in how
businesses can use cellular data to massively improve their
operations. Edge computing allows businesses to route
application-specific traffic to where they need it and where it’s
most effective – whether that’s in the cloud, the edge of our
network or on their premises.
AT&T Business now offers AT&T Multi-access Edge Compute
(MEC). This edge computing solution uses our own software-defined
network to enable faster access to data processing, and gives
flexibility in how businesses manage their cellular traffic through
on-premise hardware and software. With MEC they can process
low-latency, high-bandwidth applications closer to where they’re
used to help create new outcomes and capabilities.
This could mean new machine learning opportunities and more
connected devices. Healthcare facilities could process and transfer
data-intensive images between devices in the exam room, and
transfer that information to the doctor in near-real time. Or
manufacturers could process connected sensor data and robotic
operations on a scale they couldn’t before.
Plus, the data that runs through AT&T MEC can be routed to
their cloud or stay within an enterprise’s private environment to
help increase security.
AT&T MEC can be deployed today using LTE or 5G connectivity,
for both mobile and fixed wireless applications. Looking at a smart
factory as an example, robotic production lines and autonomous
forklifts are just two potential uses.
We’ve recently announced deals with AT&T Stadium, and Rush
University Medical Center to set up 5G with a focus on MEC.
“Healthcare systems use a lot of networking power, and 5G is
going to be a turning point in how mobile networks are used in
caring for patients. Using multi-access edge compute, the
possibility of robotics and increased telehealth are two aspects of
healthcare that we’re planning to explore,” said Dr. Shafiq Rab,
senior vice president and chief information officer, Rush
University Medical Center and the Rush System for Health.
“Ultimately, it’s about creating better outcomes for our patients.
5G combined with MEC will give us the foundation to provide
patients better service, and increase the quality of care we
provide.”
As we look to the future, edge computing solutions are expected
to become available to serve broader metro environments, and will
give things like autonomous vehicles, AR/VR and drones new
life.
We’ll be sharing more about our edge computing services this
year.
We’re the First to Bring Everything
Together for Businesses
AT&T is using these three pillars to help businesses move
into the future. It all works together to give them the best tools
to operate more efficiently, reach new customers, and increase
loyalty. We are bringing the business experience into the future
with 5G.
“5G is the gateway to an entirely new world for businesses, but
it needs multiple technologies coming together to achieve its true
potential,” said Jason Leigh, senior research analyst at IDC.
“Leveraging the low latency, increased connection density and high
bandwidth power of 5G will allow businesses to deploy integrated
solutions that accelerate their own digital transformation, and
drive productivity improvements, efficiency gains and enhance
customer satisfaction faster than ever before.”
“AT&T Business brings solutions to life that allow
businesses to innovate and shape the daily lives of consumers,”
said Katibeh. “Our new mobile 5G, fixed wireless, and MEC services
can help take businesses to the next generation of
connectivity.”
*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 best network
according to America’s biggest test.** 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
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**Based on GWS OneScore Sept. 2018. Excludes crowd sourced
studies.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190121005432/en/
Clay OwenAT&T Corporate CommunicationsPhone: (404)
538-0124Email: clay.owen@att.com
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