Is AT&T 4G LTE going away?
AT&T started delivering a 4G LTE network in 2011, and during the next ten years, it has grown to be very crucial for its cellular products. While the new 5G networks are being unveiled, some AT&T Internet consumers might be curious about when the firm will replace its 4G LTE network. Basically, no – AT&T has said on record that they plan to continue offering 4G LTE service as they create 5G networks all around.
Why AT&T Is Stuck on 4G LTE
For a few simple reasons, AT&T Fiber intends to maintain its 4G LTE network alongside 5G. For a few very simple reasons, AT&T Fiber plans to preserve its 4G LTE network alongside 5G:
1. Widespread Coverage: Even though AT&T has started deploying its 5G network, it will take some time before 5G coverage will be as pervasive as 4G LTE. Even AT&T's CEO has said, "It will be many years more before 5G gains as much coverage as 4G LTE." Since AT&T already claims broad coverage of 4G LTE, it intends to maintain 4G LTE operational for individuals who still have 4G devices or places unmet by the 5G network.
2. Compatibility: True is that over 150 million AT&T users still have 4G LTE phones that cannot connect to a 5G network even if additional 5G phones are on sale. Soon, the company intends to maintain 4G LTE service accessible, therefore continuing to assist those consumers. This will help users of 4G cell phones remain using them until they can afford the 5 G-enabling devices.
3. Limited 5G Infrastructure: Although AT&T is expanding the coverage of 5G, it will take some time for the business to start upgrading the regular cell towers among other infrastructure to accept 5G technologies. AT&T will therefore keep running 4G LTE to grab the whole market while waiting for 5G network infrastructure to be built.
4. Network Traffic Management: various radio spectrum waves inside various frequencies run 4G LTE and 5G networks. This is so because the corporation can balance total network traffic demands by having both backup networks. This is so because shifting part of the data traffic to 4G LTE mid-band frequencies helps to improve the performance for consumers utilizing AT&T 5G+ high-band millimeter wave networks.
Can You Explain When Could 4G LTE Possibly Be Turned Off?
Though it maintains investing in operating its 4G LTE network, AT&T has not said when it plans to decommission it. 4G and 5G networks will be run in parallel for at least the next 10 years, said John Stankey, CEO of AT&T.
Other telecom analysts have foreseen the carriers keeping the 4G networks operational for at least until 2030. Over the near future, carriers are expected to progressively make certain 4G spectrum accessible for 5G usage. Still, the total shutdown of 4G LTE will be a few more years ahead.
Of course, that timescale will be impacted by the pace at which a 5G connection will be introduced. The use of 4G LTE will drop when 5G coverage reaches the level of 4G and the use of 5G devices rises. Over time, carriers could start closing some of the 4G networks in places where 5G is predominant. Full retirement, however, may not probably occur until the present 4G market penetration is reached by the 5G market penetration.
How the 4G Network of AT&T Transforms with 5G
AT&T is rapidly expanding its 5G to provide "5G+," for more than 200 million people by mid-2023. However, the current widely used 4G LTE offers connectivity while the 5G building is in progress.
1. Expanding 5G Coverage: New 5G infrastructure may be utilized to improve performance on 4G LTE bands by use of modern technologies including the utilization of antennas and software. Dynamic spectrum sharing between 4G/5G is best used exactly here.
2. Enhancing 4G service: New 5G infrastructure may be utilized to improve performance on 4G LTE bands by use of modern technologies including the utilization of antennas and software. Dynamic spectrum sharing between 4G/5G is best used exactly here.
3. Meeting All Data Needs: By using many data traffic types in several network bands depending on real needs, AT&T can meet all data needs and thereby prevent traffic congestion. While 4G offers general data processing capacity, 5G is valuable for latency-dependent uses.
Therefore, even if AT&T maintains developing the next-generation 5G networking, the present 4G LTE capacity still plays a critical role in providing service to every user all around. Engineers mix it with new buildings so that they can jointly handle growing wireless data needs instead of 4G becoming extinct. AT&T predicts that for the next ten years and beyond the 4G will probably coexist alongside the 5G.
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