5G or fifth-generation wireless standard brings a lot to the tech world. Users of hardware like smartphones, laptops and tablets can expect incredible data transfer speeds, reduced latency and the ability to connect to even more devices.
This incredible wireless service has been nearly a decade in the making and the US was among the first countries in the world to oversee its initial launch to consumers and businesses. Most network providers in the US will offer 5 G networks to consumers but also continue to offer 5Gs most recent predecessor – 4G LTE. 3G networks will slowly be phased out over the next three years as this wireless standard will soon be obsolete.
5G can operate over three frequencies. The low band frequency will be able to travel long distances and penetrate buildings but will peak at the disappointing speed of 100 Mbps. Most carriers will offer this spectrum to small towns and low traffic areas in the future to extend the reach. Mid-band frequencies will bring you closer to the speed you expect from a 5G wireless standard. It covers a reasonable range too.
However, the mid-range spectrum will be extremely hard to come by. At the time of writing this article, only US carrier Sprint is capable of offering mid-band 5G services. The download speeds on the third frequency, the high Band mmWave frequency will be phenomenally high since this spectrum covers radio band frequencies of 30 GHz to 300 GHz. However, what it has in speed, it lacks in range.
Unfortunately with a high band frequency, connection and coverage falters after only a hundred feet away and cannot penetrate obstacles and obstructions like buildings. You would probably only really be able to use this frequency of 5 g in an unobstructed space like a stadium or airport and there is no guarantee of getting a consistent signal.
5G US Carriers
AT&T
At the time of the 5G launch, AT&T rolled out 5G networks in 21 cities and slowly worked its way up to nearly double of those by the end of last year. At the moment, this carrier uses a high band frequency but they plan to also roll out low-band 5G. They also initially only rolled out to business customers but the carrier began to roll out consumer 5G in 2019, widening its reach in cities like Birmingham, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Providence, Rochester, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose.
Sprint
Sprint hasn’t been as quick to roll out 5 G to its customers as AT & T, but it’s the only US carrier with the ability to offer mid-band spectrum (2.5GHz). As a result, the coverage in the cities it does offer 5G in is unparalleled. Sprint uses MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) transceivers and beamforming which improves its coverage.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile uses mmWave at the moment but will be offering low-band 600MHz 5G soon. The carrier now offers coast to coast 5G coverage but consumers can expect a little transition period as the company finishes its merger with Sprint.
Verizon
Like AT& T and T-Mobile, Verizon plans to offer 5 G at a low band frequency to get a larger footprint. They currently roll out high band frequencies to locations like stadiums and high traffic areas.