Recently you may have read a lot about 5G home Internet. Last year, Verizon launched 5G home Internet in a handful of cities with 30 more on the way this year. T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T have all also announced plans to roll out 5G this year. Even companies like DISH and Charter are busy working on their own 5G networks.
What is 5G and why are so many excited about its future when it comes to cord cutting? Today, I wanted to take a moment to answer some of your questions.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of mobile technology. We’ve seen the technology improve, starting with 2G in the 90s, and this generation will build on that technology, with some major changes. While we’ll all still have the ability to make calls, send texts, and browse the web with our devices, we’ll also see a huge increase in the speed of data being sent and received across the network to handle things like 4K streaming.
The improved technology is a response to the need for faster wireless service and the ability to handle more devices for connecting all the devices around the home and on the go. When we depend on fast, reliable Internet for everything from controlling the lights and temperature in our homes to testing self-driving cars, the need for a new generation of technology is clear.
The real selling point of 5G is the fact that it is primarily being built to replace your current home Internet service. 5G will offer fiber speeds to your home without the need to physically run a fiber line. That will cut the cost and time of rolling out fiber across the United States.
How will cord cutting benefit from 5G?
5G focuses on wireless technology that goes far beyond smartphones and laptops. The goal is for 5G to become your home Internet service and remove the need to run a physical wire to each home.
5G in short is the next generation of wireless Internet: one built to support home Internet. With this newer, faster wireless technology, we’ll have more options when it comes to how we connect our devices. Rather than being stuck with two or three Internet providers in your area, you’ll soon be able to add mobile companies and even new companies such as DISH and Google. Even Spectrum is working on 5G with the hopes of launching 5G home Internet in areas they do not currently offer Internet service in.
As more companies launch 5G we will soon go from having two or three options for home Internet to having five or maybe even ten options for home Internet. This competition from new companies jumping into the home Internet business will finally break cord cutters free from being stuck with cable companies that seem to do nothing but raise the price of cable TV.
This is no overnight fix. 5G will take some time to roll out, but it has already started and slowly it will give cord cutters real options besides cable and DSL for Internet.
When will we see 5G?
Verizon is already live with their 5G home Internet service. T-Mobile, Sprint, and others have said they plan to launch 5G home Internet this year. Verizon has also announced plans to roll out 5G home Internet later this year in 30 more cities across the United States.
So, we are slowly seeing 5G become a reality across the United States.
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