Android Central Kicking off the next generation of wireless
All of the major U.S. carriers are hard at work on their 5G strategy. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon have launched 5G networks and are aggressively expanding those networks through 2019. 5G service not only provides faster speeds but also reduced response times allowing for new services and cloud computing not previously available. For now, the major difference between LTE and 5G will be speed but as coverage continues to roll out to new areas, more services that rely on instant connectivity should become possible.
Verizon is starting small with two cities deploying what it calls 5G Ultra Wideband (UWB). In short, this version of 5G uses large chunks of high-frequency bandwidth that produce very high speeds but suffer in other areas such as coverage over distance and building penetration. While coverage is dense enough in cities to be included on the list, coverage is still only available in parts of the cities outdoors.
Verizon has released a set of maps to help you pinpoint where 5G is available in your cities. This is a helpful addition but it does show off some of the main coverage weaknesses of UWB.
At this time, it is easy to be discouraged about such minimal 5G coverage but this deployment is only a start for Verizon â it has continued to regularly deploy new cities. Early tests have been positive with us seeing speeds up to 1.4 Gbps. Although these massive speeds are impressive, they probably won’t hold up under a full Chicago load, but it’s still exciting to see.
We’re also seeing more specific expansion to places like NFL stadiums or race tracks. While great as a tech demonstration, this doesn’t offer much to the customer just yet.
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Originally posted on AndroidCentral.com