And now, the jockeying for position begins. While virtually every report available said that commercial launches of 5G networks weren't going to happen until sometime in 2020, it was a safe bet that someone was going to try and undercut that if at all possible. While a sort-of-5G appearance was in the works recently from AT&T, Sprint stepped up with plans of its own to launch not only a next generation communications 5G network, but devices for it thanks to a Softbank and Qualcomm (News - Alert) partnership.
The early reports—and these are still early reports, so lacking substantially in detail—note that Sprint is looking to do something markedly unusual, developing its 5G network in currently-available 2.5 GHz spectrum. More specifically, it's the E-UTRA LTE (News - Alert) Band 41 that's targeted. This means millimeter-wave technology isn't even a factor. There's also precious little word right now on how Sprint (News - Alert) plans to bring out a new nationwide next generation communications network over 2.5 years, or even how it will be different from its current 4G lineup.
All these plans are fine and well—even T-Mobile (News - Alert) recently announced its own next generation communications plan to bring out a 5G network in 2019—but the biggest problem is that there aren't even standards set up for this network yet. Still being worked on by a combination of the 3GPP and the International Telecommunication Union, the first 5G standards aren't even set for release until sometime in the second half of 2017.
It's important that these companies have a plan for 5G, because those who move fastest here are likely to see the best results out of the almost inevitable move. Customers are no doubt eager for ultra-high-speed mobile connectivity that may not even have a bandwidth cap on it to begin with, and 5G has already proven itself to be the kind of technology that may solve the rural connectivity problem once and for all. That means the fastest movers here will be the ones most likely successful going forward. Yet all of these companies are putting the cart before the horse; the horse has essentially only just been born and they're fitting him for a bridle right now. But Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T (News - Alert) are all promising faster carts.
It's great that these companies are being so forward-looking and proactive—that's important in next generation communications—but it's just as important not to make promises that can't be kept. With standards only set to emerge this year, promising huge new builds in short order may go badly for anyone who made these promises.
Edited by Alicia Young