AT&T Gateway Automatically Fails Over from Fiber to 5G

With network resilience and disaster recovery as top goals for businesses of all sizes, AT&T recently introduced a gateway that automatically switches between its business fiber services and 5G offerings as needed. It reverts to fiber when service is restored.

The gateway is evidence that AT&T offers converged connectivity. The service is based on a device that enables AT&T Business Fiber and 5G wireless network integration.

AT&T claimed mobility backup “is cost-effective compared to potential downtime costs and eliminates the need for additional IT support.” The telco did not say if or when other network services would be able to use the gateway and would not name the make of the device.

AT&T’s Strategy

In the case of this device from AT&T, “it is interesting because this is essentially the same “All-Fi Hub” device AT&T is offering to its Internet Air FWA residential customers, said Jeff Heynen, Vice-President, Broadband Access and Hone Networking for Dell’Oro Group, a market research and analysis firm. AT&T wants to simplify its CPE portfolio and have units that can support both fiber and 5G connectivity out of the same device.

The 5G connection can be used as a backup or redundant connection and thereby reduce downtime due to fiber cuts or any other physical layer issues. “These types of devices help provide peace of mind to business customers who simply cannot go offline. In the case of a fiber cut or any other service disruption, the traffic automatically fails over to the 5G network with minimal disruption. That is an extremely powerful feature that businesses are willing to pay for.”

Gateway Rollout

AT&T’s integrated gateway will be available to new AT&T Business Fiber customers who order speeds of 1 Gbps or higher, where applicable. For more information, new customers can visit AT&T Business Fiber.

The service is currently available at no extra cost to select new AT&T Business Fiber customers who order speeds of 1Gb/s or higher across the states of Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Texas.

AT&T plans to make the gateway more widely available early in 2025. A representative said the gateway offers 5G data rates of 25Mb/s to 300Mb/s: tariffs start at $160 per month plus taxes and fees.

Implications for Net Resiliency

"The introduction of our first-ever integrated device marks a transformative step in defining the future of connectivity," said Mike Troiano, Senior Vice President, Business Products at AT&T Business.

AT&T created the gateway “with the infrastructure across fiber broadband and wireless to keep our small, medium, and large business customers seamlessly connected,” said Mike Troiano, Senior Vice President, Business Products, AT&T Business, in prepared comments.

A Deeper Look at the Technology

The solution relies on a couple of key capabilities.

First, there is Wi-Fi 6E technology. The AT&T gateway comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, which provides faster speeds, lower latencies, and more reliable connections across a broader range of compatible devices. This technology utilizes the newly opened 6GHz band, offering more coverage and bandwidth.

Second, there is Automatic Failover and Recovery. The gateway seamlessly switches to a backup wireless connection in case of primary internet failure and reverts to fiber when service is restored. Power must be delivered to the gateway for the duration of the fiber outage for this feature to work.