AT&T has launched its 5G network in 137 additional US markets, bringing the company’s total number of 5G markets to 327 covering more than 160 million people. In addition, the company, like some other carriers, gained a more affordable 5G phone in the form of a new Samsung model.
“While many of us have been working from home for the past three months, AT&T’s network team continued to build and test our network so that we could emerge from this season with stronger, broader 5G coverage for our customers across the country,” Chris Sambar, AT&T’s EVP of Technology Operations, said in a press release.
AT&T 5G Markets
The new 5G markets are spread in 34 states. They are Alabama (6 markets); Alaska (1 market); Arkansas (6 markets), California (7 markets); Colorado (2 markets); Florida (11 markets); Georgia (5 markets), Idaho (1 market); Illinois (9 markets), Indiana (8 markets); Kansas (1 market); Kentucky (1 market); Louisiana (9 markets); Maine (1 market), Maryland (3 markets); Michigan (5 markets); Mississippi (1 market), Missouri (1 market), Nevada (1 market), New Mexico (2 markets), New York (4 markets), North Carolina (2 markets), Ohio (6 markets); Oregon (3 markets), Pennsylvania (8 markets), Rhode Island (1 market), South Carolina (4 markets), Tennessee (6 markets); Texas (8 markets); Utah (1 market), Virginia (2 markets); Washington (3 markets), West Virginia (4 markets) and Wisconsin (4 markets).
Another recent AT&T network enhancement is the deployment of dynamic spectrum sharing, which enables network infrastructure to be shared between LTE and 5G networks. As a company executive explained in a blog post, the goal is to use the networks more efficiently
Separately, AT&T said that pre-orders for the new AT&T 5G phone — the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G — will be accepted starting on June 19. The phone will be offered for $10 per month on an AT&T installment plan when a new line with an eligible unlimited rate plan is purchased. The new phone will be in stores on July 10. Additional information can be found in this press release.
It’s been a productive spring for AT&T, despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has upended the industry. In April, the carrier added 90 5G markets, bringing its total to 190 at that time.
Joan Engebretson contributed to this report.
