AT&T doesn’t think we should get too excited about 5G

Verizon recently earned itself a bit of publicity for announcing it that it’s already preparing to test out 5G network technology, but AT&T isn’t all that impressed. According to AT&T Mobility chief Glenn Lurie, consumers shouldn’t get too excited about 5G technology, especially when it’s still so early in development. While he certainly has a point, it’s worth noting that AT&T said pretty much the same thing about 4G LTE back in 2008.

Hoping to splash a bit of cold water on Verizon’s 5G testing news, AT&T Mobility chief Glenn Lurie is promoting a “wait and see” approach for the next generation of wireless technology. “We’re not at a point to be making promises or commitments to customers as to what 5G is,” Lurie told CNET at the CTIA trade show last week. “We as an industry have been really good at overpromising and underdelivering when it comes to new technology.” While it may just sound like damage control from AT&T, Lurie does have a point. Verizon’s announcement that it would begin testing 5G next year, with the possibility of beginning its 5G rollout in 2017, seems premature when we don’t even know what that technology will ultimately look like. Lurie’s comments also feel like a repeat of history: Verizon (which owns Engadget and AOL) started testing 4G LTE before AT&T back in 2008, at which point AT&T also promoted caution around the new tech.