What is 5G and why does it matter?
The evolution to 5G speed
5G is the fifth generation
of wireless technology.
It can provide higher speed, lower latency and greater capacity than 4G LTE networks. It is one of the fastest, most robust technologies the world has ever seen.
That means quicker downloads, much lower lag and a significant impact on how we live, work and play. 5G speed and other connectivity benefits are expected to make businesses more efficient and give consumers access to more information faster than ever before. Connected cars, smart stadiums and advanced gaming—they all will rely on 5G networks.
5G technology:
a brief history.
To understand 5G, it’s helpful to understand what came before it. Broadly, the first generation of mobile technology, 1G, was about voice—the ability to use a phone in a car, or away from home really took root here. The advent of 2G introduced a short-messaging layer—pieces of which can still be seen in today’s texting features. The move to 3G provided the core network speeds needed to launch smartphones. And 4G, with its high data-transfer rates, gave us video with minimal buffering and gave rise to many of the connected devices and services that we rely on and enjoy today. Now, people are beginning to experience 5G and its transformative capabilities. 5G has the potential to reach 20 Gbps speeds based on 3GPP industry specifications.
5G Impacts
If I have 5G, do I still need Wi-Fi at home?
What are the
benefits of 5G?
Along with 5G speed, a discussion about the benefits of 5G is really a discussion about delivering life-changing technologies through next-generation networks, and we’ve built it with these capabilities in mind—to do all of the things people will want to do.
Today, across the country you can experience Verizon 5G Nationwide, which uses low-band spectrum to provide great coverage with performance that can support a range of functions—from distance learning to mobile workforces—and it’s only getting better over time.
Verizon’s high-performance 5G Ultra Wideband, provides game-changing benefits, like speeds up to 10 times faster than median 4G LTE speeds, a safer alternative to public Wi-Fi,¹ video chatting with less frozen faces and console-quality gaming on the go. With our continuing expansion, now to over 100 million customers, we expect 5G Ultra Wideband to help revolutionize industries and provide immediate impact for customers.
With its high speed, low latency and massive capacity, 5G Ultra Wideband could make drone delivery, cloud-connected traffic control and other applications live up to their potential. From emergency response to global payments to next-level gaming and entertainment, the possibilities are virtually limitless.
Ultra-fast 5G speeds for
your home or business
5G Home Internet and 5G Business Internet, powered by 5G Ultra Wideband, are ideal for anyone who wants ultra-fast connectivity to stream, game or work flexibly.
5G Home Internet, a new kind of home internet, is truly unlimited broadband service with no data caps.
5G Business Internet is a wireless alternative to cable internet for businesses of all sizes and includes self set-up or professional installation options, multiple pricing and service options, and unlimited data.
“5G isn’t just another tech innovation, it’s the platform that makes other innovations possible.”
—Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO, Verizon
1Public Wi-Fi speeds from March 2021 based on Opensignal independent analysis of measurements recorded during the period December 19, 2020 – March 19, 2021
© Opensignal Limited.
Ready for
Verizon 5G?
5G, IoT and edge computing
With high speed, low latency and massive capacity, 5G Ultra Wideband, which is available in select areas, will eventually allow more technology than ever before to connect to mobile networks, enabling the Internet of Things on a truly massive scale.
The total number of connected IoT devices globally was around 13.8 billion in 2021 and 30.9 billion by 2025.2 5G Ultra Wideband is intended to help meet the staggering demands on network bandwidth.
Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband is also expected to help usher in a new era of connection for businesses.
Verizon is paired with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, and Google Cloud. These partnerships—which combine Verizon’s award-winning 5G network with the industry-leading cloud expertise—can enable developers and enterprise customers to create large-scale, latency-sensitive applications utilizing edge computing resources.
That means better cloud gaming, near real-time crowd analysis, transformation for broadcast media and more. And for enterprises looking to capture the same advantages, Verizon offers On Site 5G and private mobile edge computing.
“The future of connectivity is here. It's now. With 5G Ultra-Wideband, we will enable our customers to do more amazing things and put the full power and promise of our networks in their hands.”
—Manon Brouillette, CEO, Verizon Consumer Group
2“Internet of Things (IoT) and non-IoT active device connections worldwide from 2010 to 2025,” Lionel Sujay Vailshery, Statista, March 8, 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1101442/iot-number-of-connected-devices-worldwide/
What's next in 5G?
At Verizon's 5G Labs, we're partnering with innovators from startups, universities and enterprise teams on breakthroughs in public safety, gaming, education, retail and many other applications.
Together, we’re rethinking what’s possible in a 5G world.
