How AT&T is preparing to transform how we consume the web forever?

Project Airgig unveiled by AT&T, is a transformative technology that could use power lines to provide one day deliver low-cost, multi-gigabit wireless internet speeds. This is considered as an easier technology for deployment compared to fiber optic technology. This can deliver ultra-fast connectivity through wireless medium over a license free spectrum to any handheld or home wireless device. AT&T designed this technology to serve both transformational and practical purposes. There were positive results on the initial and outgoing testing at outdoor facilities of AT&T. It is highly expected to kick off the trails in the starting of 2017.
“Project AirGig are expected to globally transform internet access- not only in the United States but well beyond the current footprints on broadband,” said chief strategy officer and group president of Technology and Operations, AT&T, John Donovan. The obtained results from our outdoor labs testing have been tremendously encouraging, subsequently as we are heading towards 5G world. To that extreme, we are waiting for a right chance to trial this new technology globally next year.

Project AirGig and its Growth towards global internet connectivity

To support this new technology and other related access technologies, AT&T has nearly 100 patents or patent applications. We consider Project AirGig is unique from everything out there. Our experiments continue in a multiple ways to successfully send the modulated radio signal through the power lines around or near medium-voltage. The power line required does not need direct electrical connection and delivers a potential of multi-gigabit speeds in rural, urban, and abandoned areas. Without any new fiber-to-the-home Project AirGig delivers this last-mile access with a flexibility that is enough to be configured with distributed antenna systems or small cells. This avoids the necessity to build new towers or bury new cables in the ground.
AT&T Labs invented low-cost plastic antennas and devices as part of Project AirGig that helps us to regenerate millimeter wave (mmWave) signals located along the power line which can be used for multi-gigabit mobile and fixed deployments of 4G LTE and 5G. These low hardware and deployment costs patent-pending devices maintain the highest signal quality. AT&T has come up with an astounding approach that is completely unique.

Project AirGig can be of greater use to all the utility companies. It is planning for the expansion and enabling of various smart-grid applications. Encroaching tree branches, an early detection of line integrity issues can be allowed. To pinpoint specific locations, power companies could use it down to the line segment, to prevent problems by proactive maintenance. They also assure to support meters, control systems and appliances of the utility companies. They add up the potential to succeed for our customers as well as the utility companies.
Connecting the World:
Project AirGig, today’s announcement is a huge step forward connecting people everywhere they live, work and play in an innovative manner. That is the final step in an ongoing journey. The few companies are bringing connectivity to people the way they can. Nowadays optic fiber connects numerous population, business and building customer locations.
The AT&T fiber network is used more than 1 million miles to deliver to more locations faster wired and wireless speeds. With a software-centric approach we’re tying together to build for the future.

Wired Connection: In almost 29 markets we’re delivering over fiber a speed of 1 gigabit per second today and also in an idea to enlarge more by year end. Technology trials are conducted over millimeter wave to drive greater speeds and efficiencies, and they are considered the next-generation fixed wireless and G.Fast technology in our new and existing copper and fiber networks. This draws our ability to combine the internet services way beyond the existing wireline footprint.

Wireless Connection: The continued evolution of 4G LTE and 5G networks will make us very excited in the coming years. Across the United States markets there is a plan to deploy 4G LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) since early 2014 and this has reached to cover the vast majority of customers in LTE coverage area today. This represents a greater network capacity and faster 4G LTE data speeds for the customer. To align on 5G standards we’re gathering with the global technology leaders for faster 5G deployment. With fixed and mobile outdoor and lab testing we’re already doing 5G trials.
Software Defined Approach:
Specialized hardware like switches, routers and firewalls which we traditionally relied on to carry data and voice calls around the world. For today’s data and video usage, these devices were reliable, but not considered as ideal which less expected solutions and demand faster. This leads to the transition to the software. Replacement of CD players with streaming music apps by the consumers on their phones, we’re transforming our network gear into a complete standard servers virtual software. More control over their respective network services are provided to our customers. They are fast, flexible and resilient. Virtualization of our network almost about 75% can be reached by 2020, the most noted phase in the industry.
All parts of the world are believed to gain the potential to bring connectivity through Project Airgig. That similar approaches hampered by our researches a decade ago are addressing the challenges, such as high deployment costs and megabit per second speeds,” said Donovan. “Project AirGig is still in the experimentation phase considerably. In conjunction our overall access approach, with our software-defined network architecture , unlatches the ability to speed up the connected ability such as virtual reality, augmented reality, telemedicine, self-driving cars, and 4K mobile video.”
We would like to share more thoughts on trials and details around the technology.