The network America relies on
Welcome to the fully networked economy
Today, we live in a world where we all work, learn, create and even stay safe using networks—built on the 21st-century infrastructures of mobility, broadband and the cloud. We call this new world the fully networked economy.
5G is not another incremental technological innovation impacting this networked economy. It’s a once-in-a-generation breakthrough platform that has the potential to dramatically change what we think is possible.
Verizon has a history of network leadership, something that consumers recognize. Verizon has earned more awards than any other provider for Wireless Network Quality according to J.D. Power.1 That leadership is a driving force behind the work to unlock the full potential of this fully networked economy.
Leading the way: Advancing Verizon’s amazing 5G network²
We've continued that leadership spirit by undergoing a massive network transformation that is allowing us to set the stage for even greater 5G development and adoption. Our spectrum position, our extensive fiber ownership and the advanced technology we deploy from the core of our network all the way to the edge of our network makes Verizon’s 5G network reliable, robust, secure and high performing. And that makes us America’s most reliable 5G network3.
A huge part of our network transformation is network virtualization. Key 5G use cases like massive scale IoT solutions, more robust consumer devices, AR/VR, remote healthcare and autonomous robotics in manufacturing environments will all heavily rely on the programmability of virtualized networks. Virtualization is critical for advanced operations and services, which require a programmable network with the ability to move functions and operations across the distributed network.
Additionally, the advanced electronics we use in our fiber network in combination with the vastness of that fiber footprint help provide the capacity we need to move today’s data and help support the exponential growth in data from the mobile network in the future that should result from new 5G uses.
Finally, our spectrum holdings provide an excellent foundation for rapid deployment of and massive capacity on 5G, which paves the way for extraordinary innovation and growth in the future.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation (that’s what the “G” stands for) of wireless technology.
Broadly, the first generation of mobile technology, 1G, was about voice—the ability to use a phone in a car, or away from home. 2G introduced a short-messaging layer. 3G provided the core network speeds needed to launch the first smartphones. And 4G LTE, with its high data-transfer rates, gave us access to mobile video with low buffering and gave rise to many of the connected devices and location services that we rely on and enjoy today.
Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband (available with select plans2) offers transformational speeds and capabilities that can open the door to a whole new world of game-changing possibilities.
How fast can 5G be?
5G download speeds are a significant improvement over previous generations. For example, with Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband:
- You can download a movie in minutes and a song in seconds.4
- You can get audio and video in HD.5
- You can experience console-quality gaming on the go.6
- You can stream, share, post and work in public settings without being slowed down by everyone around you when connected.
With Verizon, you also have America’s most reliable 5G network.3
See our latest 5G phones and other 5G offers, or get more 5G answers below.
What makes 5G different?
Explore what makes 5G different.
Why does 5G matter?
Now available to more than 200 million people in the U.S., 5G Ultra Wideband can deliver life-changing technologies for both consumers and businesses.
Verizon’s 5G network and solutions for business can connect enterprise businesses and help make them smarter across industries like manufacturing, healthcare, utilities and retail. The technology we provide can help business leaders make decisions that drive Enterprise Intelligence.
For example, Associated British Ports is taking steps to become the "port of the future" by utilizing a Verizon Private 5G Network to enable a smart supply chain to efficiently track nearly 600,000 vehicles and over 1.2 million cruise ship passengers every year through the Port of Southampton. Network as a Service capabilities are giving businesses more scalable, secure, and cost-effective options that align with their growth. Our Labs as a Service model is connecting Verizon Innovation Labs with enterprises to troubleshoot new and emerging connected technologies and conduct proof-of-concept testing. And Verizon 5G Edge brings processing power closer to the end user, for even faster response times that can enable new, transformative applications, create efficiencies and improve customer experiences across the enterprise.
Going forward, 5G could help modernize the supply chain, transform agriculture with smarter farming and help other Internet of Things applications live up to their potential. From emergency response to global payments, next-level gaming and augmented reality, a more accessible metaverse, virtual travel and brick-and-mortar retail, the possibilities are virtually limitless.
Future of 5G: IoT, edge computing and a new era of connection
With high speed, low latency and massive capacity, Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband could help usher in a new era of connection, enabling the Internet of Things (IoT) in exciting new ways.
Verizon has mobile edge computing partnerships with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, combining Verizon’s award-winning 5G network with industry-leading cloud expertise. These relationships can enable developers and enterprise customers to create large-scale, latency-sensitive applications using edge computing resources, which move data processing closer to the edge of the network for even faster response times.
That means a more responsive Internet of Things as well as amazing new uses for augmented reality, transformation in the supply chain, better cloud gaming and more. And for enterprises looking to capture the same advantages, Enterprise Intelligence can help bring together private 5G networks and Verizon 5G Edge to help drive better business outcomes.
Get the most of Verizon 5G
Have questions? We’ve got answers.
1. Verizon is #1 for Network Quality in the Northeast (tied), Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, North Central, West regions. Verizon has also received the highest number of awards in network quality for the 30th time as compared to all other brands in the J.D. Power 2003-2022 Volume 1 and 2 and 2023 Volume 1 U.S. Wireless Network Quality Performance Studies. Network Quality measures customers’ satisfaction with their network performance with wireless carriers. For J.D. Power 2023 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.
2. 5G access requires a 5G-capable device in a 5G coverage area.
3. Most reliable 5G network based on more first place rankings in RootMetrics® 5G data reliability assessments of 125 metro markets conducted in 2H 2022. Tested with best commercially available smartphones on three national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. RootMetrics rankings are not an endorsement of Verizon.
4. Download speeds may vary depending upon network and coverage conditions, and content optimization for 5G Ultra Wideband.
5. HD availability may depend on the specific Verizon data plan in which a customer is enrolled.
6. Lag dependent upon 5G spectrum used.