DALLAS, Sept. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* unveiled
today Project AirGig, a transformative technology from AT&T
Labs that could one day deliver low-cost, multi-gigabit wireless
internet speeds using power lines.
We're deep in the experimentation phase. This technology will be
easier to deploy than fiber, can run over license-free spectrum and
can deliver ultra-fast wireless connectivity to any home or
handheld wireless device. We designed Project AirGig literally from
the ground up to be both practical and transformational. Our
initial and ongoing testing at AT&T outdoor facilities has been
positive. We expect to kick off our first field trials in
2017.
"Project AirGig has tremendous potential to transform internet
access globally – well beyond our current broadband footprint and
not just in the United States,"
said John Donovan, Chief Strategy
Officer and Group President, Technology and Operations, AT&T.
"The results we've seen from our outdoor labs testing have been
encouraging, especially as you think about where we're heading in a
5G world. To that end, we're looking at the right global location
to trial this new technology next year."
Growing global internet connectivity with Project
AirGig
AT&T has more than 100 patents or patent
applications supporting this new technology and other access
technologies. We think Project AirGig is unlike anything that's out
there. We're experimenting with multiple ways to send a modulated
radio signal around or near medium-voltage power lines. There's no
direct electrical connection to the power line required and it has
the potential of multi-gigabit speeds in urban, rural and
underserved parts of the world. Project AirGig delivers this
last-mile access without any new fiber-to-the-home and it is
flexible enough to be configured with small cells or distributed
antenna systems. No need to build new towers. No need to bury new
cables in the ground.
As part of Project AirGig, AT&T Labs invented low-cost
plastic antennas and devices located along the power line to
regenerate millimeter wave (mmWave) signals that can be used for 4G
LTE and 5G multi-gigabit mobile and fixed deployments. These
patent-pending devices can mean low hardware and deployment costs
while maintaining the highest signal quality. We think we've come
up with an approach that we believe will be unique in our
industry.
Project AirGig can also be a benefit to utility companies. It
could enable and expand a variety of smart-grid applications. It
could also allow for early detection of line integrity issues, such
as encroaching tree branches. Power companies could use it to
pinpoint specific locations, down to the line segment, where
proactive maintenance could prevent problems. It could also support
utility companies' meter, appliance and usage control systems. It
has the potential to be a win for our customers and a win for the
utility companies.
Connecting Everyone
Today's announcement of Project
AirGig is a huge step forward in how we innovate around connecting
people everywhere they live, work and play. It's the latest step in
an ongoing journey. We're bringing connectivity to people in ways
that few companies can. Today we have fiber connecting more people,
buildings and business customer locations than anyone else. We're
using more than 1 million miles of the AT&T fiber network to
deliver faster wired and wireless speeds to more locations. And
we're tying it all together with a software-centric approach built
for the future.
- Wired: We're delivering 1 gigabit per second speeds over
fiber in 29 markets today with plans to expand more by year end.
We're also conducting technology trials over millimeter wave,
next-generation fixed wireless and G.Fast technology to drive
greater speeds and efficiencies in our new and existing copper and
fiber networks. This gives us the potential to expand internet
service beyond our existing wireline footprint.
- Wireless: We're very excited about the continued
evolution of 4G LTE and 5G networks over the next few years. We've
been deploying 4G LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) in markets across
the United States since early 2014
and today cover the vast majority of customers in our LTE coverage
area. This means faster 4G LTE data speeds and greater network
capacity for the customer. We're teaming up with global technology
leaders to align on 5G standards for faster 5G deployment. And
we're already doing 5G trials with fixed and mobile outdoor and lab
testing.
- Software Defined: Traditionally, we relied on
specialized hardware like routers, switches and firewalls to move
voice calls and data across our network. These devices were
reliable, but not ideal for today's data and video usage, which
demand faster and less cumbersome solutions. So we're moving to
software. Just like consumers have replaced CD players with
streaming music apps on their phones, we're turning our network
gear into virtual software running on standard servers. And we're
giving our customers more control over their own network services.
It's fast, resilient and flexible. We plan to virtualize 75% of our
network by 2020, the most aggressive pace in the industry.
"We believe Project AirGig has the potential to quickly bring
connectivity to all parts of the world. Our researchers are
addressing the challenges that hampered similar approaches a decade
ago, such as megabit per second speeds and high deployment costs,"
said Donovan. "Project AirGig is still very much in the
experimentation phase. That said, I'm excited about what AT&T
Labs' engineers have developed to date. Our overall access
approach, in conjunction with our software-defined network
architecture, is unmatched in its ability to usher in connected
experiences like augmented reality, virtual reality, self-driving
cars, telemedicine and 4K mobile video. Big urban city. Small rural
town. Around the world."
We look forward to sharing more soon on trials and details
around the technology.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by
subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T
brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions
around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high
speed internet and voice services. We're the world's largest
provider of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin
American countries. We offer the best global coverage of any U.S.
wireless provider.* And we help businesses worldwide serve their
customers better with our mobility and highly secure cloud
solutions.
Additional information about AT&T products and services is
available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at
@ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/att.
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*Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and
data roaming; LTE roaming; voice roaming; and world-capable
smartphone and tablets in more countries than any other U.S. based
carrier. International service required. Coverage not available in
all areas. Coverage may vary per country and be limited/restricted
in some countries.
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