Some may remember that nearly a month ago, Randall Stephenson, the chief executive officer of AT&T, had hinted that mobile users everywhere might soon be able to experience the wonders of 5G not directly through their smartphones and tablet devices, but through 5G pucks. These pucks can basically serve as mobile 5G hotspots for consumers, at least until phone makers can start releasing true 5G compatible handsets in the market.
Using portable 5G hotspots (in the meantime) is actually not a bad idea. AT&T has already boldly declared almost a couple of months ago that it was planning to debut its mobile 5G offering in no less than a dozen cities across the United States later this year. As a matter of fact, the mobile operator has already named Atlanta, Dallas, and Waco as the first metros to get 5G in 2018. And it is really cool that the second biggest wireless carrier in America has thought of a temporary solution for end users just in case mobile manufacturers still could not offer enough 5G ready devices in the next few months.
For industry leader Verizon Wireless, it is also looking to launch its own take on the portable 5G hotspot concept, according to a report recently published by Bloomberg. During this year’s Mobile World Congress event (still ongoing in the beautiful city of Barcelona in Spain), Ronan Dunne, the chief of wireless at the Big Red, commented that due to the limited range of 5G compatible mobile devices this year, 5G service will most likely be experienced by users by way of a portable 5G hotspot.
Not to be outdone, the other two members of the Big Four -- T-Mobile and Sprint -- have since announced new updates with regards to their respective 5G plans. The Uncarrier has revealed that it will be launching its 5G offering in four major US cities first, namely Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York.
As for Sprint, the number four wireless service provider in the country has confirmed that its 5G networks will go live first in half a dozen cities -- Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Almost a month ago, Marcelo Claure, the chief executive officer of the company, had said that its mobile 5G offering should launch some time within the first couple of quarters of 2019. It is a good bet that the three other national carriers should also be looking to debut their respective 5G services right around that time.
