Sean Kinney

At roughly the mid-point of the 5G cycle (assuming 10-year generational upgrade cycles), there’s seemingly widespread criticism that it hasn’t delivered on the promises it made. That’s largely related to the massive capital spend operators undertook to acquire new spectrum and put it into service, but without attendant major new lines of revenue based off of services only 5G could deliver. The fact of the matter is, though, that 5G is a technology that lacks the agency to do, or not do, anything.

Using its deployment of FirstNet to provide a dedicated, nationwide network to first responders, AT&T can reach deeper into rural consumer markets that typically fall to chief competitor Verizon, according to AT&T Communications CEO John Donovan. “T-Mobile much more urban, Verizon much more rural,” Donovan said. “FirstNet gives us a great opportunity to go into the rural markets because not only will we be building the network for first responders, it dawned us that we should also be putting up stores and going after the consumers.

Based on the IEEE 802.11ac standard, the key feature of Wave 2 Wi-Fi, which recently gained Wi-Fi Alliance certification, is MU-MIMO. As consumers simultaneously adopt smart home solutions coupled with gigabit-speed home Internet, devices featuring Wave 2 Wi-Fi technologies are purpose-built to simultaneously support multiple connected users. And with Wave 2 Wi-Fi recently gaining certification from the industrywide Wi-Fi Alliance, supporting products are well-positioned to see increased uptake by conservative enterprise IT customers. Although Wave 2 products have been available for more than a year, the certification is a mark of interoperability that’s important for business buyers.