- AT&T and Verizon are expected to push 5G SA services to enterprises first
- RedCap backs AT&T's 5G standalone network
- T-Mobile already has multiple 5G SA-based network slicing deals in place
The Big 3 mobile operators in the U.S. (aka AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon) have standalone 5G (5G SA) networks in place, meaning that they all can offer 5G features like network slicing and more to enterprises. We've pulled together a breakdown of where they stand.
AT&T's RedCap supports 5G SA
AT&T told Fierce Network that it's "really excited" about its 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) technology, which it rolled out nationwide earlier in July 2025, serving over 200 million points of presence (POPs) across the country.
The RedCap specification is based on the 3GPP 5G Release 17, which supports 5G SA, rather than just the non-standalone (NSA) 5G radios with a supporting 4G control plane.
"We continue to make significant advancements in deploying 5G standalone technology across the U.S. We’ll have more to come soon," an AT&T spokesperson told Fierce.
Regarding AT&T, Dell’Oro Research Director Dave Bolan told Fierce, “Most likely, early adoption of Reduced Capability (RedCap) devices will be by enterprises, for which AT&T has stated that they now offer 5G Standalone capability,” said Dell’Oro’s Bolan. “It is unclear when they will offer 5G SA to the consumer nationwide. AT&T’s deployment is more complex than most, with a distributed core in multiple locations across the country," he added.
Businesses will likely be the first to receive RedCap, slicing and other standalone services, but don’t hold your breath for that AT&T 5G gaming slice, kids!
Verizon's priority 5G slicing
Verizon has had 5G SA available in Phoenix, Arizona, since November 2023 and several states in the U.S. since at least September 2024. It started down the standalone path with network slicing trials for the police in Phoenix, which I reported on in April 2024.
Verizon revealed that their network was 5G SA capable by unveiling a nationwide priority 5G slice in mid-June 2025. Verizon also said that they have dedicated 5G network capacity reserved for the Verizon Frontline Network Slice.
The operator hasn't replied to Fierce's questions about its standalone advancements yet.
T-Mobile – Nationwide 5G SA leader
Despite AT&T's and Verizon's 5G SA advances, T-Mobile is ahead of its two rivals in terms of network slicing thanks to its nationwide 600 MHz 5G SA network launched in August 2020 and network slicing being initiated in August 2023. It rolled out 5G SA on the mid-band 2.4 GHz spectrum in November 2022.
This move led to T-Mobile starting to offer network slices, such as a video calling beta for developers, from 2023. It has offered plenty of slices since.
As SNS Telecom & IT 5G research director Asad Khan told us: "T-Mobile has been a lot more forthcoming with its network slicing customer wins, some of which include Casey's General Stores, Disney, Formula One, SailGP, the City of New York, Miami Police Department, Los Angeles County first responder agencies and the City of El Paso."