Nationwide Coverage of 5G SA in U.S. is Imminent, T-Mobile Plans to Shut down 4G

Recently, AT&T announced that its 5G independent networking has been deployed nationwide, which narrows the gap with the leader T-Mobile.

In a blog post released on October 8th, Yigal Elbaz, Senior Vice President and Network CTO of AT&T, described the SA network expansion as “another bold leap” in the wireless connectivity field and stated that the operator is migrating users to the network “in selected areas every day”.

The SA network has actually been available for some time. Elbaz stated that “millions” of AT&T customers have already connected to the network, and “specific services” are using SA functionality “from the East Coast to the West Coast,” but he did not provide specific details.

Now, based on the support of devices, SIM cards, and tariff packages, the operator can expand its services to more customers. Compatible 5G SA smartphones include models released in the past few years, such as Apple’s iPhone 13, Samsung’s Galaxy S21, and Google’s Pixel 8 series.

AT&T also stated that its 5G Reduced Capability network, which uses a 5G core network and supports the latest Apple Watch and other devices, has been expanded to cover 250 million access points. The operator confirmed in June this year that RedCap has been deployed nationwide.

Verizon is also nearing nationwide coverage

Verizon is about to complete its 5G SA upgrade. The operator stated that its 5G SA has been deployed nationwide, but is still in the process of promotion in some regions. Although the deployment is not 100% complete, according to an operator spokesperson, the “vast majority” of 5G SA supported phones will be connected to Verizon’s network in the “vast majority of places”.

But unlike AT&T, Verizon has launched two network slicing services based on the 5G SA network. In April of this year, the operator launched Frontline, a nationwide available network slicing service for emergency personnel. It also offers Enhanced Video Calling service, providing dedicated network slicing for video communication on iPhone to improve quality.

AT&T has not yet launched network slicing services, and Elbaz’s blog only hinted at the upcoming new services empowered by 5G SA. He said, “With 5G independent networking now covering the whole country, we have laid the foundation for the next wave of innovation, creation, and connectivity… We will continue to expand 5G independent networking and set the stage for the next generation of applications and services.”

According to Gabriel Brown, Senior Chief Analyst of Omdia Mobile Networks, setting up an official logo for nationwide SA promotion is of great significance for AT&T, as it demonstrates the operator’s confidence in technological maturity and network scalability capabilities. The United States, along with China and India, is a leading market for 5G SA. A recent survey by Heavy Reading found that 5G SA is preparing for rapid expansion. Brown pointed out that the results show that “a critical mass is forming behind 5G SA, which will unleash the innovative potential of a wider mobile network service ecosystem.”

T-Mobile is considering shutting down its 4G network

AT&T and Verizon have been lagging behind T-Mobile in deploying 5G core networks for 5G SA services. T-Mobile launched 5G SA as early as 2020 and subsequently launched 5G Advanced nationwide. It also offers two network slicing solutions: T-Priority for emergency personnel and SuperMobile for enterprise customers.

T-Mobile is clearly confident in its 5G position. According to The Mobile Report, it is considering shutting down some 4G networks early next year and redirecting spectrum back to 5G.

Although T-Mobile is leading the race to upgrade its 5G core network in the United States, its path is different from its competitors. Brown explained that both AT&T and Verizon have implemented cloud native 5G core networks, while T-Mobile’s implementation is more traditional. At this year’s Mobile World Congress, T-Mobile announced its core and edge network telecom cloud strategy based on Red Hat technology.

Brown commented, “This is crucial when adding new services, as cloud native deployment can make operators more agile and deploy services faster.”