Dallas – September 30, 2026 -- AT&T's Proof of Concept (PoC) Labs mark 30 years of testing emerging networking technologies for more than 500 enterprise customers annually, spanning healthcare, finance, manufacturing and media sectors.
AT&T PoC Labs validate technology before enterprise deployment
Founded in 1996 as a spinoff from AT&T Bell Laboratories, the labs let businesses test IP networking, MPLS, cloud connectivity, 5G and edge computing solutions in controlled environments before rollout. Locations operate in Dallas, Alpharetta, Georgia, Chantilly, Virginia, Chicago and Middletown, New Jersey, supplemented by portable Proof of Concept Kits deployed at customer sites and in the field.
Dallas Cowboys test network slicing for stadium-district connectivity
AT&T Business Wireless and lab engineers evaluated a network slicing solution over AT&T's public 5G network for the Dallas Cowboys, creating a prioritized lane for critical event operations across areas surrounding the stadium where traditional Wi-Fi coverage is limited. The results are informing future deployments across other large, sports-anchored districts.
DirtFish Rally School replaces a 50-foot broadcast bus with a carry-on kit
For a live summit broadcast from Washington's Cascade Mountains -- an area without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage -- the PoC Labs and AT&T's Global Video Solutions team deployed a portable private wireless network fitted into a carry-on-size suitcase. The setup replaced equipment that previously required a 50-foot bus, enabling live in-car camera footage for rally racing fans.
Sovato confirms surgical-grade network performance for remote procedures
Sovato, described as the first robot-agnostic platform for remote procedure programs, tested AT&T Virtual Private Network, AT&T Dedicated Internet and AT&T satellite connectivity through the labs. The evaluation confirmed the network could consistently meet performance requirements for procedural and surgical applications, a prerequisite for remote surgery use cases.
iHeartMedia benchmarks SD-WAN platforms for nationwide audio delivery
iHeartMedia, which reaches nine of 10 Americans through its broadcast radio assets plus its iHeartRadio streaming service and podcasts, worked with the labs to compare leading SD-WAN platforms under identical test conditions. The results validated performance against the company's resiliency requirements ahead of a technology decision.
AT&T labs prepare networks for AI-driven traffic demand
The team has also validated AT&T Private Cellular Anywhere, a 5G solution built for remote sites and mobile teams, and now evaluates how AI traffic patterns affect network design and future capacity needs for autonomous guided vehicles and robotics applications. Zee Hussain, SVP of Global Enterprise Solutions at AT&T Business, said the labs remain "a critical vehicle for helping customers move from possibility to execution."