AT&T Plots G.fast Expansion As It Updates on Broadband Plans
Buried in the smartphone, IoT, virtual reality and 5G noise coming from CES in Las Vegas this week was an update from AT&T of its ultra-broadband developments.
AT&T joined the throng of companies aiming to appear at the cutting edge of the comms and media scene by issuing a press release that looked to be all about 5G evolution and mobile data. (See AT&T Lays Out 5G Plans & More for 2017.)
But buried in that announcement the operator provided a number of ultra-broadband updates:
In October the operator announced trials of fixed wireless point-to-point millimeter wave (mmWave) technology to reach multi-dwelling unit (MDU) locations in Minneapolis, a move that enables AT&T to explore the potential of offering ultra-broadband services outside its "traditional 21 state wireline service area." Now it's "exploring additional markets for trial locations," which, based on its previous announcement, are likely to include Boston, Denver, New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle and Washington D.C. The mmWave technology is used to provider a multi-Gigabit feed from an existing location that has a fiber feed to an MDU, where the capacity is then shared over existing in-building wiring to potential customers. In time AT&T believes it could deliver broadband services of up to 500 Mbit/s using this method.
AT&T says it's "encouraged by the results of our G.fast trial taking place at another MDU in the Minneapolis area" and is now "gearing up to offer G.fast to more locations, primarily MDUs, within our 21 state wireline footprint in 2017." That's a big endorsement of the technology's evolution and capabilities – and it'll be interesting if the likes of CenturyLink and Windstream also expand. (See AT&T Explores G.fast for MDUs, CenturyLink Plants G.fast Flag With Calix and G.fast Chipset Market to Hit $4.2bn by 2022 – Report.)
The operator says it now has more than 200 patents and patent applications for Project AirGig and that it will begin field trials in 2017. Project AirGig is an AT&T Labs development focused on delivering Gigabit connectivity over wireless connections that run alongside (not inside) medium voltage power lines. "Project AirGig has the potential to be a win for our customers and a win for the electric utility companies," notes the operator. "Collaborations between AT&T and utility companies could enable and expand a variety of smart-grid applications such as early detection of line integrity issues and help with proactive line maintenance." (See AT&T Claims 'Breakthrough' With New Power Line Delivery Tech for 4G, 5G.)
AT&T is pitching its 'Gigabit' fiber broadband service to a potential 4 million users across 46 metros and by mid-2019 it expects to pass 12.5 million potential users in 67 metro areas. (While AT&T uses the term Gigabit, it does note that "download speeds are typically up to 940Mbps due to overhead capacity reserved to deliver the data." And, of course, that's still an "up to" situation.)
Following trials last year, AT&T says it will start to offer fixed wireless access services starting mid-2017 in several states where it accepts FCC Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) support. "We expect to reach more than 400,000 locations by the end of 2017 across the 18 states where we accepted CAF II funds, most of which will get internet access for the first time. By the end of 2020, we plan to reach 1.1 million locations in those 18 states," notes the operator.
— Ray Le Maistre,    , Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading
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