AT&T launches first 5G trial

US carrier AT&T has now launched what it believes as the first business customer trial of 5G wireless technology, promising to bring gigabit-level Internet speeds to smartphones in the long run.

AT&T previously worked with Ericsson to conduct the company’s first public 5G demo, which handled 4K video streaming and real-time camera feeds in speeds of up to 14 Gbps. AT&T has taken the 5G technology it worked on with Ericsson and Intel to begin field tests aimed to mirror real-world situations once it hopefully becomes mainstream.

“We’re leaving the lab and heading into the field with a real-world business customer,” said Rick Hubbard, senior VP for AT&T Networking Product Management.

Like Verizon, AT&T is using millimetre wave technology, with the 5G wireless network working inside one of Intel’s offices in Austin, Texas.

The company seems to have lived up to its word earlier this year when it announced that it would start field trials of 5G wireless technology by the end of 2016. According to AT&T, 5G is able to reach speeds 10 to 100 times faster than current 4G networks.

During the trial, AT&T will test enterprise proof of concept scenarios, such as Internet access, VPN and 4K video streaming. The trials are also poised to feature the potential of voice over IP over the 15 GHz and 28 GHz