AT&T announced on Tuesday that it will begin publicly testing its \u201cProject Airgig\u201d technology, which takes advantage of broadband over powerlines (BPL) and other technologies to provide multi-gigabit speeds to its users, by this fall. The deployment is part of AT&T\u2019s 5G preparation.<\/p>\n\n
AT&T said that it\u2019s currently in \u201cadvanced discussions\u201d with power companies ahead of its public tests. It said it\u2019ll begin to deploy Project AirGig in two places, including the United States and one other unannounced country. Project AirGig was developed inside AT&T\u2019s labs as it prepares to deploy 5G data speeds to its wireless customers, and the fastest possible speeds it can deliver to customers who pay for broadband.<\/p>\n
\u201cAT&T Labs is \u2018writing the textbook\u2019 for a new technology approach that has the potential to deliver benefits to utility companies and bring this multi-gigabit, low-cost internet connectivity anywhere there are power lines \u2013 big urban market, small rural town, globally,\u201d AT&T said on Tuesday, noting that AirGig has been in development for more than 10 years.<\/p>\n
Project AirGig combines two technologies, the aforementioned BPL and millimeter wave, to deliver high-speed broadband and mobile connectivity, instead of just one or the other. \u201cThese devices create a multi-gigabit signal that travels along or near the wire \u2013 not through it,\u201d AT&T explained. \u201cThis signal means connected experiences become an everyday reality for people \u2013 regardless of location,\u201d the company added, noting that unlike current fiber solutions, Project AirGig doesn\u2019t need to be buried in the ground.<\/p>\n
Check out the two videos below for a closer look at how Project AirGig operates.<\/p>\n