5G is confusing[1]. It's not one technology that will bring you gigabit-per-second-speeds and sub-10-millisecond latency. 5G's actually three different network approaches[2]. Only one of these -- millimeter-wave (mmWave)[3] -- can give you gigabit speeds. Verizon[4], under the name 5G Ultra-Wideband, leads in US mmWave deployment. But the company also muddied the water by introducing yet another 5G approach: Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)[5]. Verizon 5G DSS performance is pretty much the same as you're getting from Verizon 4G LTE.
So, before you buy a new 5G phone, make sure you know exactly what you're getting. Almost no Verizon customers will see 5G Ultra Wideband's speeds. Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg praises 5G Ultra-Wideband network[6], which is now available in 55 cities, 43 stadiums, and 7 airports.
What Vestberg doesn't mention is that the 5G Ultra-Wideband has a range of about 150 meters. And its 24GHz and 28GHz bands can barely transmit through window glass. Unless you're almost on top of a mmWave transceiver with a clear line of sight, you won't get greater speed, latency, or throughput.
Verizon's 5G DSS, which Verizon claims is already in 1,800+ markets and covers over 200 million people, has the same range but -- and here's the bad news -- speed and throughput of the Verizon 4G LTE you're already using.
A Verizon spokesperson explained:
Our nationwide coverage layer of 5G was never meant to compete on speed or capacity with our keenly differentiated and powerful 5G Ultra Wideband network. Initially, customers should expect our 5G Nationwide network to perform similarly to our award-winning 4G LTE network. Performance and coverage will continue to grow over time."
So, why do it? Well, first it's marketing. When you hear "5G," you