AT&T’s Stephenson: ‘5G Will Serve as a Fixed Broadband Replacement Product’ in 3 to 5 Years

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Making clear AT&T’s intentions to compete with wireline broadband providers over the next decade, the wireless company’s CEO, Randall Stephenson, said that the 5G standard will evolve over the next three to five years into a “fixed broadband replacement product."

“I am very convicted that that will be the case. We are obviously on a standards-based path that is mobile first,” said Stephenson Wednesday during AT&T’s fourth-quarter earnings call.

Related: Stephenson: AT&T Will Be ‘Assertive’ in Content Negotiations

In December, AT&T launched 3GPP-based service mobile 5G NR service to a handful of business users in select markets. As 5G-capable smart phones become available over the course of 2019 and 2020, AT&T will primarily focus its development of 5G services toward the mobile market.

This is in contrast to Verizon, which launched fixed wireless 5G services to a small number of users in October, declaring its intention to claim the American residence right off the bat. T-Mobile and Sprint, meanwhile, aim to have fixed wireless service enabled as part of their merger. 

Daniel Frankel
Daniel Frankel

Daniel Frankel is the managing editor of Next TV, an internet publishing vertical focused on the business of video streaming. A Los Angeles-based writer and editor who has covered the media and technology industries for more than two decades, Daniel has worked on staff for publications including E! Online, Electronic Media, Mediaweek, Variety, paidContent and GigaOm. You can start living a healthier life with greater wealth and prosperity by following Daniel on Twitter today!