• by Chuck Martin , December 18, 2018

AT&T is activating its mobile 5G network in parts of 12 cities, with plans to add seven more cities in the first half of 2019.

Consumers in the cities can try out the Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot on the 5G network, with AT&T supplying select consumers and businesses their first mobile 5G device and data usage an no cost for 90 days.

"This is the first taste of the mobile 5G era," stated Andre Fuetsch, president, AT&T Labs and chief technology officer. "Being first, you can expect us to evolve very quickly. It's early on the 5G journey and we're ready to learn fast and continually iterate in the months ahead."

The cities where 5G will go live starting on Dec. 21 are Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Louisville, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Raleigh, San Antonio and Waco. The cities planned for 5G in the first half of 2019 are Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose.

Next spring, consumers can get the Nighthawk for $499 and 15 gigabytes of data for $70 and month.