Verizon's 5G is about to get a big upgrade — what you need to know

Verizon'southward 5G is about to go a big upgrade — what you need to know

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Verizon is ready to throw the switch on a revamped 5G network that should deliver super-fast speeds to more than of the wireless carrier's subscribers in what could prove to be a very big step for the growth of 5G in the U.S.

Quondam in January, Verizon says it will launch an improved version of its Ultra Wideband network augmented past the C-Band spectrum the carrier won in an auction last yr. Upward until now, Verizon'south Ultra Wideband coverage had relied solely on mmWave-based 5G, which delivers fast speeds but merely for limited ranges. mmWave also has a difficult fourth dimension penetrating physical barriers, which makes it hard to selection up a betoken indoors.

As a result, Verizon Ultra Wideband had been express to certain portions of virtually 90 U.S. cities. Verizon augments that with a slower nationwide 5G network that reaches 230 million people. In one case Verizon adds its C-Band spectrum to the mix, Ultra Wideband will reach more than 100 million people in one,700 cities with faster speeds.

How fast? Verizon says the new Ultra Wideband can deliver speeds upwardly to 10x faster than the LTE you might be used to. That translates to download speeds of up to 1 Gbps in some areas.

When Verizon'southward new Ultra Wideband network goes live, many existing 5G phones will enjoy the faster speeds right away. That includes the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 as well every bit Samsung phones like the Milky way S21, Galaxy Z Fold three and Galaxy Z Flip iii.

My feel with C-Band certainly bears that out when I got to try out a test network Verizon had set up in Los Angeles last month. In my limited time with a Verizon examination phone, I saw speeds top 1 Gbps on occasion when my LTE-based iPhone xi Pro was churning out 35 Mbps speeds.

In other instances, Verizon'south 5G examination network produced a broad range of speeds between 289 Mbps and 849 Mbps — certainly faster than an LTE network's download capabilities. Speeds practice vary based on your location, but it should be a noticeably faster feel than what y'all're used to with LTE.

And that could accost one of the major complaints about the 5G rollout so far, where the promises of radically improved performance simply hasn't materialized. Initial 5G implementations have relied heavily on sub-6GHz 5G implementations, because those signals have a wider reach. They're also simply marginally faster than what LTE produces.

Ultra Wideband delivers peak speeds, but it'southward been limited to select locations. With C-Band spectrum increasing Ultra Wideband's attain, Verizon is betting that people will finally see the merits of 5G. And if those aren't readily credible, the wireless carrier has posted a 5G Ultra Evidence to YouTube, in which assorted celebrities tout the benefits of faster 5G.

Verizon is also doubtlessly hoping that the launch of C-Band boosts its 5G network ahead of what other U.S. carriers have done thus far. In 3rd-party testing, T-Mobile has earned nearly of the plaudits up until now, as the carrier has combined its own spectrum with what it acquired in its merger with Dart to produce the best average 5G speeds with the widest reach.

Verizon hasn't provided a specific date for when its revamped 5G service volition launch. Rumors had pointed to today (Jan iv) as a potential launch date, but the solar day before, Verizon and AT&T agreed to push back any launches at the request of the U.South. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. (AT&T likewise acquired C-Band spectrum last twelvemonth to bolster its own 5G network.)

The Federal Aviation Assistants has raised safety concerns most whether C-Band will interfere with safety systems on some airplanes — an statement that Verizon, AT&T and the Federal Communications Commission practise not purchase. Notwithstanding, the January iii agreement ways the carriers will wait ii weeks before launching whatsoever C-Ring enhancements to their 5G networks.

The delay isn't stopping Verizon from revamping plans for wireless phones and home internet, with the carrier planning on launching those new offerings on Wednesday (January 5). Nosotros've asked for boosted details from Verizon, including whether that will touch on pricing for current Verizon phone plans, where offerings that include Ultra Wideband coverage start at $80 a month for a single line.

Verizon says it will offer ii new plans for its 5G Abode internet service — 5G Habitation and 5G Home Plus — though pricing and plan details weren't announced. 5G Home Internet plans will exist fifty% off for customers who besides get an Ultra Wideband unlimited data programme from Verizon for their mobile phones.

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom's Guide. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics and one-time movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.