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Google Pixel 6a FCC Clearance Reveals Special AT&T Powers

The new Pixel will work on AT&T's additional 5G frequencies, if the carrier lets it.

 & Sascha Segan Former Lead Analyst, Mobile

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The two models of the upcoming Google Pixel 6a cleared by the FCC will have hardware support for the 3.45-3.55GHz 5G spectrum AT&T is using to boost its 5G network, FCC documents show.

The FCC clearances, which according to Phone Scoop went through on April 11, portend a launch sometime in the next month or two. They're for four different device IDs, but the documents explain there are two primary models: a "parent model" with millimeter-wave 5G, and a "variant model" without.

The millimeter-wave 5G model, coded as GB62Z, has the high-band frequencies for all of the US carriers. It's most likely going to be sold by Verizon, though. According to Wave7 Research, Google has been pushing Pixel sales in at least some Verizon dealers with high "spiffs" or kickbacks to salespeople willing to sell the product.

Test report
The test report specifically shows AT&T's new band.

Both models' test reports also specifically call out 3450-3550MHz as a frequency tested, making them ready for the dual-band C-band 5G network AT&T intends to roll out later this year. Along with that, they have an array of other key 4G and 5G bands, including everything currently used by Verizon and T-Mobile (but not Dish's special Band 70).

At the moment, the only other line of phones that AT&T has said will work on 3.45GHz is the Samsung Galaxy S22 line. The big question is whether, and when, AT&T will decide to certify the Pixel 6a for 3.45GHz. If AT&T just decides to say no, the Pixel 6a's capabilities could go unused.

The Pixel 6a was previously leaked through, of all things, a coloring book.

About Our Expert

Sascha Segan

Sascha Segan

Former Lead Analyst, Mobile

My Experience

I'm that 5G guy. I've actually been here for every "G." I reviewed well over a thousand products during 18 years working full-time at PCMag.com, including every generation of the iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S. I also wrote a weekly newsletter, Fully Mobilized, where I obsessed about phones and networks.

My Areas of Expertise

  • US and Canadian mobile networks
  • Mobile phones released in the US
  • iPads, Android tablets, and ebook readers
  • Mobile hotspots
  • Big data features such as Fastest Mobile Networks and Best Work-From-Home Cities

The Technology I Use

Being cross-platform is critical for someone in my position. In the US, the mobile world is split pretty cleanly between iOS and Android. So I think it's really important to have Apple, Android and Windows devices all in my daily orbit.

I use a Lenovo ThinkPad Carbon X1 for work and a 2021 Apple MacBook Pro for personal use. My current phone is a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, although I'm probably going to move to an Android foldable. Most of my writing is either in Microsoft OneNote or a free notepad app called Notepad++. Number crunching, which I do often for those big data stories, is via Microsoft Excel, DataGrip for MySQL, and Tableau.

In terms of apps and cloud services, I use both Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive heavily, although I also have iCloud because of the three Macs and three iPads in our house. I subscribe to way too many streaming services. 

My primary tablet is a 12.9-inch, 2020-model Apple iPad Pro. When I want to read a book, I've got a 2018-model flat-front Amazon Kindle Paperwhite. My home smart speakers run Google Home, and I watch a TCL Roku TV. And Verizon Fios keeps me connected at home.

My first computer was an Atari 800 and my first cell phone was a Qualcomm Thin Phone. I still have very fond feelings about both of them.

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