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This is the NETGEAR 'puck' you'll use to connect to the AT&T 5G network
- AT&T used its commercial “puck” to connect to its 5G network last night.
- The puck is called the NETGEAR Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot and runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 5G modem.
- There’s no word on a release date or price for this AT&T 5G peripheral.
Yesterday, in Waco, TX, AT&T conducted what appears to be the world’s first millimeter wave mobile 5G browsing session with a standards-based device.
That device is the long-discussed “puck” — a 5G mobile hotspot you’ll use to connect to 5G in the interim between now and when the first 5G-enabled smartphones hit store shelves.
It turns out NETGEAR makes the puck, which is officially called the NETGEAR Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot. Those of you who are big into routers or online gaming probably recognize the Nighthawk moniker as being connected to NETGEAR’s line of high-end routers.
Check out the Nighthawk here:
The NETGEAR Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 5G modem. Eventually, this brand new modem will be in smartphones which will allow a phone to directly connect to a 5G network. In the meantime though, this hotspot will have to act as transition tech.
According to AT&T, it is on track to be the first U.S. carrier to introduce mobile 5G services in the country. Only a few days ago, we heard that the AT&T 5G network would switch on in the coming weeks, although likely only in small sections of a handful of U.S. cities. Obviously, Waco, TX, will probably be one of those cities.
Unfortunately, AT&T is still leaving us in the dark on a lot of information regarding the Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, such as how much it will cost to buy/lease and when you’ll be able to get it. The carrier also neglected to give us any information on how last night’s 5G connection fared as far as speeds, latency, etc.
NEXT: AT&T’s standards-based 5G service will arrive ‘in the next few weeks’