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AT&T to launch 5G in Atlanta, Dallas, Waco

By Susan McFarland
AT&T announced that the first three cities to see its 5G mobile network will be Atlanta, Dallas and Waco, Texas. Nine others will be announced in the coming months. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
AT&T announced that the first three cities to see its 5G mobile network will be Atlanta, Dallas and Waco, Texas. Nine others will be announced in the coming months. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Two Texas cities -- Dallas and Waco -- and Atlanta have been selected as the first places in the United States to see AT&T's mobile 5G network, considered the next generation of wireless network technology.

A company announcement Tuesday said the three cities are among the first 12 that will have the capability by the end of the year. AT&T said the other nine cities will be named in coming months.

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"This is standards-based, mobile 5G we're talking about. AT&T is the only U.S. carrier that's announced plans to deliver this ground-breaking technology to its customers in 2018," the carrier said. "We're working on an aggressive schedule to help ensure customers can enjoy mobile 5G when we launch the network this year."

Telecommunications experts estimate that 5G speeds will be about 10 times faster than 4G, which is presently the mobile standard.

AT&T said it plans to add more 5G capable mobile devices and smartphones early next year.

AT&T Sr. Vice President Igal Elbaz said after the first phase, the company will be the first to deliver standards-based mobile 5G.

"Our mobile 5G firsts will put our customers in the middle of it all," Elbaz said.

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To help with its timeline, the company said it will open a lab in Austin, Texas, to run "stress tests" that simulate real-world customer experiences over 5G.

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