You no longer have to subscribe to one of AT & T’s newer plans to get a proper 5G flavor. The carrier adds 5G and ‘5G +’ (its nickname for millimeter wave 5G) to some of its unlimited unlimited plans, including the simply titled Unlimited as well as more advanced levels like Unlimited & More Premium. Daily users should see 5G in March, while business customers with older plans will get 5G data from April.
You need a 5G phone (real 5G, not 5G Evolution), and you will receive an email or text message when 5G arrives at your plan.
The legacy support is part of a broader 5G strategy for 2021. AT&T hopes to have 5G millimeter wave 5G in 17 sports venues by 2021, and hopes to roll out its C-band wireless spectrum around the same time. In other words, it shifts from using basic coverage to increasing average velocity and filling gaps.
The legacy support is an interruption of the early days of 5G, when airlines (including Engadget parent Verizon) wanted to charge extra for 5G and would otherwise send customers to newer, probably more expensive plans. This, of course, is unlikely to be an altruistic move. You may be less likely to switch from provider if you know you can get 5G’s higher speeds and lower latency with your existing service. It may be worthwhile for AT&T to sacrifice a little extra revenue from subscribers if it means retaining more customers in the long run.