AT&T said that they’ll be adding 5G service to Oklahoma City, Raleigh and Charlotte this year. They previously announced their build plans for 5G in Dallas, Waco and Atlanta. T-Mobile and AT&T have an ongoing public relations rumble about each carrier’s rollout.
AT&T said Friday that it plans to begin introducing mobile 5G to customers in a dozen cities this year, and they’re adding Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C. and Oklahoma City as the next three identified cities for their buildout, the carrier said in a press statement. These cities will join their previously announced cities of Dallas, Atlanta, and Waco
Earlier this year, T-Mobile said it plans to be in 30 cities by the end of 2018, the first four being in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Las Vegas.
T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray took the opportunity during their rollout announcement to take a dig at AT&T by boasting, “Why are we in New York and not Waco? Because New York matters.”
Rewriting a page from T-Mobile’s playbook, Melissa Arnoldi, President, AT&T Technology & Operations said Friday, “We’re deliberately launching with a mix of big and mid-sized cities.”
“One competitor recently boasted, ‘New York matters more than Waco’ when discussing their future plans. We politely disagree – all Americans should have access to next-gen connectivity to avoid a new digital divide,” said Arnoldi.
Both Ray and Arnoldi sidestepped making any statement that no matter how many cities they build out in the next five months, subscribers in those communities – whether it be Paducha or Philadelphia – will not benefit since current phones do not support 5G and new mobile devices will only start rolling out in 2019.
“No company in the world is better at building networks than AT&T. It’s why we’re building America’s first mobile 5G network as well as FirstNet, the country’s nationwide public safety broadband platform dedicated to first responders. We’re on track to launch the first mobile 5G services and deliver the first device to customers this year. 5G will be more than just a better network. Especially after our trial learnings with large enterprises, small-and-medium sized businesses and residential locations the past two years, we believe 5G will ultimately create a world of new economic opportunity, greater mobility, and smarter connectivity for individuals, businesses and society as a whole,” said Arnoldi.
“In a global, interconnected economy, access to the most advanced technology is vital for creating jobs and driving economic growth that benefits everyone in a community,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “Access to 5G technology can make a genuine difference in the lives of families and help assure that Charlotte continues to be such a great place to live, work and play.”
“Raleigh is a center of innovation and research,” said Raleigh mayor Nancy McFarlane. “Being on the forefront of technology, like AT&T’s mobile 5G, is a great for both residents and business.”
“Our residents and our businesses always desire further private sector investment in technology infrastructure, and being a city on the cutting edge is something we can and do pitch to job creators,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “This 5G deployment in OKC will help our residents and businesses take advantage of future technologies and opportunities.”
