AT&T announced the Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot device in October this year. The hotspot was available for purchase even though it offered access to the carrier’s 5G Evolution network, which wasn’t a proper 5G network. It merely provided users with faster access on existing 4G networks. However, AT&T has today announced that it will fire up 5G proper for the mobile hotspot starting this week.
The company proudly says that on December 21st, it will be the first and only company in the United States to offer a mobile 5G device on a commercial 5G network. This means that those who have this hotspot device will be able to experience true 5G internet for the first time.
The new network speeds will only be available in select markets, though. AT&T says that users in Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Fla., Louisville, Ky., Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Raleigh, N.C., San Antonio and Waco, Texas will be able to access the network.
AT&T says that it also has plans to deploy mobile 5G in parts of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, California by the first half of 2019. The first 5G smartphones will also hit the market by then. AT&T has already confirmed that it’s going to offer a 5G smartphone from Samsung in the first half of next year.