(Telecompaper) AT&T has announced a 5G roadmap that will begin with lab tests with Ericsson and Intel in the second quarter, followed by field trials in Austin this summer and the provision of 5G fixed wireless in some of the city's locations by the end of the year. The operator, which holds several dozen 5G-related patents (millimetre wave, NFV, SDN), said the trials will help guide its 5G standards contributions. The trials will also set the stage for widespread commercial and mobile availability once the technical standards are established. AT&T said it would conduct its 5G trials in a way that will allow it to pivot to compliant commercial deployments once the technology standards are set. 3GPP is likely to complete the first phase of that process in 2018.