Facepalm: AT&T has cleared up some confusion relating to 5G gadget compatibility, and it is not excellent news for some customers. A number of new-ish telephones just like the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, Galaxy S21 and Pixel 6 won’t assist the mid-band spectrum in spite of everything.
As Ars Technica recounts, AT&T final month advised CNET that it will be releasing a software program replace to permit choose “older” handsets to leverage its newly acquired 3.45GHz C-band spectrum.
AT&T picked up the spectrum throughout the Federal Communications Fee’s spectrum public sale again in January in what proved to be the third highest grossing public sale in FCC historical past. The telecom led the pack with 1,624 licenses acquired for a complete of $9.08 billion. Dish Community (bidding as Weminuche LLC) completed in second place within the public sale with $7.33 billion spent for 1,232 licenses. T-Cell took dwelling the bronze, agreeing to shell out $2.9 billion for 199 licenses.
Shortly after the public sale, AT&T govt Chris Sambar advised CNET that “the foremost flagship units in 2022, the massive units from the massive OEMs, they may have 3.45GHz assist beginning this yr and going ahead.”
As you may think about, it was a refreshing bit of stories when AT&T expanded on gadget assist in August. Sadly, it was all an enormous mistake.
AT&T consultant Jim Greer not too long ago confirmed to Ars Technica that solely 2022 and newer units will be licensed by the FCC to make use of 3.45GHz. Earlier statements made about assist on older telephones was “offered by mistake after which incorrectly confirmed,” Greer added.
An up to date listing of appropriate units offered to CNET contains the Galaxy S22 household, the Galaxy Z Flip 4, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the iPhone 14 household.
Greer’s assertion appears to pin the blame for the shortage of assist on the FCC and its dealing with of certifications.
It is value clarifying that these with 5G telephones on AT&T will nonetheless have the ability to leverage its 3.7GHz C-Band in addition to low-band and mmWave frequencies. The three.45GHz spectrum will merely assist AT&T create a stronger mid-band community for units that may faucet into it.
AT&T advised CNET it’s offering data to retailer groups about its 3.45GHz community and which units assist it, nevertheless it’s unclear how a lot of it will trickle right down to clients and issue into their shopping for choices.
Picture credit score: Christian Hansen, Shiwa ID