AT&T has applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a three-year experimental licence to carry out tests for 5G fixed and mobile services. The telco plans to conduct testing in the 3400-3600 MHz, 3700-4200 MHz, 14500-15350 MHz and 27500-28500 MHz bands “with various types of experimental wireless equipment”.
AT&T (NYSE:T) has applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a three-year experimental licence to carry out tests for 5G fixed and mobile services.
A redacted public version of the US telco’s filing with the FCC said it intended to conduct testing in the 3400-3600 MHz, 3700-4200 MHz, 14500-15350 MHz and 27500-28500 MHz bands “with various types of experimental wireless equipment”.
The tests and equipment would support 5G multi-Gbps applications for fixed and mobile wireless communications networks at higher transmission rates and lower latency than currently available, the telco said.
AT&T, of which Randall Stephenson (pictured) is CEO, contended that the experimental system would support voice, video and data transmissions, adding that 5G technology had not yet been used to provide commercial services in any spectrum band.
The telco asked for permission to begin testing now so trials can be done before the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G standards are finalised, expected to happen between 2018 and 2019. 3GPP consists of seven telecoms standard development organisations (ARIB, ATIS, CCSA, ETSI, TSDSI, TTA and TTC) which provide reports and standards for cellular network technologies.
AT&T’s proposed experiments would see base stations transmit and receive signals from experimental equipment on mobile vehicles and fixed stations in and just outside Austin, the telco said.
AT&T did not say which company will provide the equipment.
Rival operator Verizon announced last September that it intended to begin 5G tests in 2016. The company already has a dedicated 5G innovation team.
