Meeting demand today, and preparing for tomorrow: The need for small cell technology

Our customers want to download content faster, stream movies with amazing quality, stay connected with friends and family, and have greater control of their home — even when they are not there.

And, the proof is in the data — usage that is. In just over a decade, the amount of data used on our mobile network increased by about 470,000%. As streaming video online increases and new apps and services are introduced, this growth in data use will only continue to rise.

This is why we’re making sure our network is the best for our customers and our community. With this increased demand on our mobile network, we are implementing new and innovative ways to enhance our network and prepare for the future. One of these solutions is the installation of small cells.

Small cells will:

Help enable faster wireless Internet speeds.

Provide more and targeted network capacity for things like streaming music or videos.

Lay the foundation required to support the technologies of the future — such as 5G, smart cities and new developments in the Internet of Things (IoT).

Improve wireless experience in places where large cell towers are not the best solution.

The size and flexibility of small cells helps AT&T target areas needing additional capacity in a way that is low profile and unobtrusive. Depending on the need, small cells can be placed inside buildings or outdoors. When placed outdoors, they can be attached to existing utility poles, light poles, traffic lights or exterior walls of buildings.

Small cells will allow us to provide a better mobile LTE experience today, while also allowing us to prepare for the technologies of the future — such as 5G, smart cities and new developments in the Internet of Things (IoT).

We’ve been working with state and local leaders in New Jersey to come up with the best ways to give communities access to the wireless services they want and need — from smart cities solutions to education to healthcare to entertainment and much more. We look forward to working with leaders in the Garden State to build this important mobile broadband infrastructure.