AT&T has reached roaming agreements with major Canadian carriers—Bell Canada, Rogers Communications, and Telus—to accelerate Internet of Things (IoT) deployments across North America.
Under the agreements, Bell, Rogers and Telus will gain access to AT&T’s LTE-M network across the United States. In return, AT&T customers will be able to roam on the Canadian carriers’ nationwide LTE-M networks while in Canada. Likewise, Bell, Rogers and Telus subscribers will be able to use AT&T’s LTE-M coverage when roaming in the U.S. This reciprocal arrangement creates a contiguous North American footprint for LTE-M, simplifying cross-border IoT deployments.
Chris Penrose, president of advanced mobility and enterprise solutions at AT&T, explained that many enterprise customers are launching IoT solutions across international boundaries. He said that access to a first North American LTE-M footprint through these roaming agreements will help businesses streamline deployments, scale their IoT implementations, and prepare for an eventual transition to 5G.
AT&T also plans to begin LTE-M deployment in Mexico by the end of the year, further extending the reach and interoperability of IoT services across the continent.
In related network developments, AT&T began rolling out its 5G service in New York City in August. The carrier’s 5G+ offering uses millimeter-wave spectrum to deliver extremely high speeds, though with a more limited range compared with lower-band 5G. That same month, AT&T partnered with Badger Technologies to pilot autonomous, 5G-enabled robots in retail environments. These robots are designed to enhance store operations and the customer experience by detecting out-of-stock items, identifying mispriced or misplaced inventory, and spotting potential hazards on the sales floor.
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