AT&T jumps into fast lane with ultraspeedy 5G field trial - CNET

The rollout of 5G will enable all kinds of new opportunities. A more responsive network could let a doctor remotely perform delicate surgery with robotic hands, carriers and equipment makers have said. The increased capacity would also let you stream virtual-reality videos or games directly to your headset or send multiple streams of super-high-definition video to all the big-screen televisions in your house.

"New experiences like virtual reality, self-driving cars, robotics, smart cities and more are about to test networks like never before," John Donovan, chief strategy officer of AT&T, said in a statement. "5G will help make them a reality."

It could even be fast and cheap enough to let you ditch your current broadband service. AT&T plans to offer a home Inteet service powered by 5G wireless tech to a limited number of customers by the end of the year, according to a spokesman.

"What 5G will mean is that fixed wireless will become a realistic alteative or replacement for fixed Inteet service, especially in rural America," said Roger Entner, an analyst at Recon Analytics.

Currently, your phone's speed is measured in megabits per second. With 5G, it will be measured in gigabits per second.