If you build it, they will come.
We know that the will be the first commercial chip to support multi-gigabit 5G connectivity and that AT&T has big plans for a nationwide 5G network that uses both 5G mmWave and sub-6 GHz frequencies, so all that's left are the phones. A 5G network will be useless without products to use it, and as expected Samsung is one of the first manufacturers AT&T has tapped to build them.
In a pair of press releases, that there will be two Samsung smartphones available in 2019 that will support the companies budding 5G network. There aren't a lot of details given, but it's not a stretch to imagine the two models in question — the and Galaxy Note 10.
We're pleased to announce we're working with Samsung to bring another standards-based 5G device to AT&T customers in 2019. This smartphone from Samsung will be able to access both 5G mmWave and sub-6 GHz. We expect to offer this device in the second half of 2019.
AT&T has the equipment and infrastructure in place for a 5G network in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Louisville, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Raleigh, San Antonio, and Waco. these cities are slated to have operational 5G by the end of 2018. In 2019, the company plans to expand the service to seven additional cities, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose.
We're at the Qualcomm Tech Summit this week to learn more about things like 5G modems and expect to hear from other industry partners as the week goes on.