5G home internet service

What is 5G internet?

5G stands for “fifth-generation” and it’s the newest standard of wireless internet or mobile communication powered by millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology. 5G networks operate on one of three bands:

Low-band spectrum (<1GHz): Widespread coverage with speeds up to 100 Mbps and excellent penetration capabilities

Mid-band spectrum (<6GHz): Limited coverage with speeds up to 1 Gbps and moderate penetration capabilities

High-band spectrum (>6GHz): Low coverage with speeds up to 10 Gbps and poor penetration capabilities

How is 5G internet different from other connections?

5G connections are said to deliver faster speeds, reduced latency and a higher data transfer rate than previous iterations like 4G. For example, on a 5G network you could download a two-hour movie in 3.6 seconds. That same download would take six minutes on a 4G network and 26 hours on 3G, according to the Consumer Technology Association.

5G mobile providers

Most major mobile providers are actively developing their 5G networks or are already offering service. Here are some major providers that you can look to for 5G in 2020. 

AT&T

AT&T has 19 major cities with 5G mobile hotspots as of 2019. High-band 5G service is also available in 23 cities using the 5G Plus. In the coming year, AT&T will expand on the low-band spectrum and offer better coverage in more cities.

Spring and T-Mobile

As Sprint and T-Mobile will merge later this year, their 5G efforts go hand-in-hand. Sprint’s 5G mid-band network is available free of charge in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix, as of 2018. T-Mobile’s own low-band network is available to 200 million subscribers in 5,000 cities. 

Verizon 

31 major cities including Los Angeles and Chicago can utilize Verizon’s high-band 5G network. The network is compatible with Moto Z2, Z3 and Z4 Force phones, Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10+ 5G Verizon devices.

Learn more about 5G mobile in 2020 and which devices are scheduled to release.