AT&T is set to anger several 5G smartphone owners because the company says “older devices” won’t support its new 3.45GHz midband 5G. With this, only iPhone 14 owners and some other 5G phone customers will be able to enjoy this new band.
As reported by croupfollowing spending more than $9 billion to acquire 3.45 Ghz spectrum, AT&T reneged on its promise to upgrade older devices to support this new band, and now says it will be limited to hosting around 2022 newer devices – spoiler it won does not include the iPhone SE 3.
With that in mind, the publication got its hands on a list provided by Jim Greer, assistant vice president of corporate communications for AT&T, which devices will benefit from this new group:
– archyde news –
- Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Plus et S22 Ultra ;
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 ;
- Samsung Folding in Z4;
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro et 14 Pro Max ;
- Netgear Nighthawk M6 and Nighthawk M6 Pro hotspots.
croup points out that while 5G smartphone owners will be able to use AT&T’s 5G network, they won’t be able to take advantage of this band where “the carrier plans to use both 3.45 Ghz and C-band to create a stronger nationwide median network, something those with incompatible phones won’t be able to experience.
Chris Sambar, AT&T’s executive vice president of network, previously told CNET that while not all cell sites will have access to both 3.45 GHz and C-band, the “majority” will get both bands.
The post adds that AT&T will still sell a variety of older 5G phones and it’s unclear whether the carrier will explain to existing and new customers that these smartphones won’t be able to connect to the company’s full 5G network.
At this time, AT&T has not commented on this. The new iPhone 14 series will be available for pre-order tomorrow, with general sales starting next week, September 16. The iPhone 14 Plus will be available later next month.
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