AT&T and Cisco have introduced 5G network capabilities across the United States to improve performance for IoT devices. For enterprise IoT installations employing 5G certified devices, AT&T’s 5G network is ready to deliver lower latency and better throughput.

Using AT&T’s 4G LTE and low-power IoT cellular networks, AT&T and Cisco manage millions of linked devices in the manufacturing, utilities, transportation, public sector, retail, and healthcare industries, as well as public safety.

AT&T Control Center, powered by Cisco, provides organizations with near real-time visibility of all IoT devices on their network, as well as security concerns, data usage inefficiencies, and traffic classification reporting optimization.

“5G will empower businesses across all industries to digitize faster and reshape business models,” said Masum Mir, vice president at Cisco. “Together with AT&T, we are marking a milestone for AT&T Control Center customers to harness the power of 5G to connect industrial and business-critical devices for ultimate IoT visibility.”

William Stovall, vice president at AT&T, added: “Working with Cisco, we continue to help businesses deploy IoT devices and applications faster and more securely and get more value out of devices they use. This is an important first step towards the IoT massive connectivity that will eventually create opportunities for enterprises to realize the full potential of IoT.”

With the addition of AT&T’s countrywide sub-6GHz 5G network, businesses in industries including manufacturing, automotive, and entertainment will be able to take advantage of the increased bandwidth and lower latency now available to more than 251 million people throughout the US. Owners of 5G-capable connected automobiles, for example, will be able to download, stream, and share music, video, software updates, navigation, and mapping at higher speeds while on the road.

With faster response times enabled by 5G, mobile personal emergency response device providers and users can feel more independent and secure. Manufacturers may employ camera technology to monitor and identify product flaws in near real-time on the assembly line, reducing waste, thanks to 5G’s low latency speeds.

Adding 5G also opens the door to vast IoT connectivity, which will allow businesses to transform, driverless vehicles and smart factories to become a reality, and healthcare to be revolutionized.