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It’s no secret that many of us are tired of being tied to with cumbersome contracts, low speeds, restrictive terms and rising fees. Indeed, a . All too often, though, we have .
Could be the answer? The technology powering the also wants to tackle our home needs. The earliest 5G plans, available from names like , and , offer respectable speeds at a straightforward price — but availability is limited to select cities and regions. Let’s dig in and see how it works, how fast it gets, what it costs and where it’s available.
What is 5G home internet?
Simply put, 5G stands for fifth generation. Fifth generation of what, you ask? The fifth generation of wireless data networks. You’re probably most familiar with hearing 5G used to describe and . You’re not wrong: 5G networks, which use different radio frequencies than previous generations, aim to provide faster data speeds with much less lag or delay than we had with 4G.
My CNET colleague . Millimeter-wave technology uses much higher frequencies than previous generations and subsequently provides much faster speeds and connections. But those higher, gigabit speeds come with a price — the data doesn’t travel the same distance as 4G and has more trouble with obstructions. To combat that, midband technology, which offers speeds averaging between 300 and 400 megabits per second, increases the coverage area provided by millimeter-wave. Finally, low-band 5G offers a range similar to 4G but with a speed that tops out between 100 and 200Mbps.
Is 5GHz the same thing as 5G home internet?
Nope. One common mistake is to see the «5GHz» setting on your router and assume you have access to 5G. also use short-range radio frequencies — typically either 2.4GHz or 5GHz — to transmit your internet signal to connected devices within your home. So 5GHz is one of the band options for your home’s Wi-Fi system, but it’s not the same as 5G, a cellular technology that uses higher-frequency waves.
How is 5G home internet different from fiber or cable internet?
Most ISPs deliver internet service via phone lines or cables connecting your home to a more extensive network. That includes common, like digital subscriber line, coaxial cable and fiber-optic internet. Those are all wired connections from your provider to your home.
5G home internet, on the other hand, is a type of fixed wireless internet service, which means that the connection between your provider and your home is not a wired one. With 5G, your provider will need to install an indoor or outdoor 5G receiver at your house to pick up the signal. It’s similar to satellite internet, but instead of beaming in a signal from satellites orbiting in the night sky, it’s relaying information from a much closer wireless hub. Even though you’re using the same 5G network as your mobile phone, the gateway is specific to your location and cannot be used elsewhere.
Which ISPs can provide 5G home internet?
As stated already, 5G is still being deployed across the country. Due to that, the number of providers currently offering any 5G home internet plan is relatively limited. For example, provides a 5G mobile service, but its fixed wireless solution does not currently utilize its 5G network. So, right now, your main options for 5G home internet are , and . Let’s explore what each offers.
Sarah Tew/CNET
is a relatively new player on the ISP field. The company, which started in 2016, does not lean into the 5G connection: It does not use 5G NR radio technology, which is a focus of mobile providers, but it does use millimeter-wave technology as a critical aspect of delivering fixed wireless home internet to customers. «We operate in 24GHz and 37GHz spectrum bands and our network technology is the same across all our markets,» a Starry spokesperson said.
The monthly price includes unlimited data, free equipment and installation, and no contracts. It’s also the only 5G home internet provider listed here that features symmetrical or near-symmetrical download and upload speeds, similar to what you’d find with a fiber internet service.
Lastly, Starry also offers a «30-Day Happy Interneting Guarantee» that features a full refund if you aren’t satisfied with the service and cancel within the first 30 days.
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Starry Internet plans and pricing
Plan | Max speeds | Monthly rate | Equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starry Basic | 50Mbps download, 50Mbps upload | $30 | None | None | None |
Starry Plus | 200Mbps download, 100Mbps upload | $50 | None | None | None |
Starry Pro | 500Mbps download, 250Mbps upload | $65 | None | None | None |
Starry Gigabit | 1,000Mbps download, 500Mbps upload | $80 | None | None | None |
T Mobile
T-Mobile Home Internet features the lowest broadband speeds among our listed providers. That’s because it wavers betweenand 5G. It’s not exclusively 5G. T-Mobile «anticipates» that most customers will average between 33 and 182Mbps download speeds.and exponentialstandards we hit a max of 132Mbps on the service.
T-Mobile’s home internet service includes all setup fees and taxes. There is no annual contract or data cap. It also includes a Price Lock guarantee that shields you from any price increases for as long as you remain a customer.Its current deal features Paramount Plus free for one year ($5 a month version with limited ads) and, for eligible Magenta MAX customers, half off the price of YouTube TV for the first year.
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T-Mobile Home Internet plans and pricing
Plan | Max speeds | Monthly price | Equipment fee | Data cap | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T-Mobile Home Internet | 33-182Mbps download, 6-23Mbps upload | $50 ($30 for eligible Magenta MAX mobile customers) | None | None | None |
Sarah Tew/CNET
Verizon’s 5G internet service, which uses ultrawideband 5G technology, boasts max download speeds of up to 1 gigabit and average speeds of around 300Mbps. However, upload speeds are not symmetrical and will plateau at 50Mbps or less because Verizon does not exclusively use the millimeter-wave technology but a mix of.
Verizon 5G Home Internet pricing is $50 a month for a two-year price guarantee or $70 a month to lock in the price for three years, plus some extra perks. Either way, it’s an all-in price that includes equipment, setup fees and taxes, and like all other Verizon plans, it requires no contracts or data caps.
Verizon also offers many promos and deals to sweeten the pot for potential customers. First, it provides an early termination fee credit offer to give qualifying customers a bill credit of up to $500 if they switch from their current ISP and are charged an ETF. Second, 5G Home Plus customers get an eight-piece SimpliSafe Smart Home Security Bundle.Lastly, customers with qualifying Verizon Unlimited mobile plans will get 50% off the monthly cost of either plan.
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Verizon 5G Home Internet plans and prices
Plan | Max speeds | Monthly price | Equipment fee | Data cap | Contract | Price guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Verizon 5G Home | 85-300Mbps download, 50Mbps upload | $50 ($25 for qualifying Verizon Unlimited mobile customers) | None | None | None | 2 years |
Verizon 5G Home Plus | 300-1,000Mbps download, 50Mbps upload | $70 ($35 for qualifying Verizon Unlimited mobile customers) | None | None | None | 3 years |
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5G: The next five years
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Where is 5G home internet service available?
Let’s not sugarcoat this: 5G home internet service is not yet widely available. While the list of cities seems to expand nearly every month, most are larger US cities.
T-Mobile Home Internet is the most widely available service among the three providers we’ve highlighted. While that its 5G home internet service is , T-Mobile has leapfrogged that by . Yet T-Mobile acknowledges it does not have unlimited availability across those locations due to network capacity and a limited inventory of its router. You can check out this to see the expansive list of metro areas.
is currently offered in approximately 900 markets. That means that although the total number of households in which it is available is less than T-Mobile, it does cover more cities.
Starry Internet is available in Boston; Columbus, Ohio; ; ; and Washington, DC. Its 2022 expansion roadmap includes approximately 30 million households in , , Dallas, Detroit, , Indianapolis, Memphis, Miami, Philadelphia, , Portland, and .
Does 5G home internet make sense for you?
The first thing to be said is what we always say regarding ISPs. No matter how good the service, it’s all moot if unavailable at your address. 5G technology is still being rolled out across the country, so we should expect to see some bumps in the road as that effort continues.
Still, 5G home internet availability is increasing at a pretty rapid pace. The affordable, straightforward pricing is vastly appealing — and what jumps off the page for me. Time will tell if that trend holds as availability continues to expand. Still, it would be a real step forward if 5G could emerge as a viable broadband option for traditionally underserved parts of rural America. As CNET alum Rick Broida put it , «imperfection is a lot more tolerable when you’re paying less than half what you were before.»
5G home internet FAQs
What does the ‘G’ stand for in 5G?
It simply means generation. In other words, 5G is the fifth generation of cellular technology.
What’s the difference between 5G home internet and cable internet?
Cable internet — whether coaxial cable, fiber-optic cableor a hybrid of the two — relies on wires to transmit data from a central hub into your home. But 5G home internet is a fixed wireless solution that uses an internet gateway to connect your home using radio frequencies to connect to a cell tower or data hub nearby.
How much does 5G home internet cost?
5G home internet is one of the more affordable options available considering the decent download speeds that current plans average — T-Mobile averages just over 100Mbps, Starry chimes in at 200Mbps and Verizon’s median speed is 300Mbps. The lowest monthly cost among the three main providers is $25 (Verizon 5G Home with the Verizon Unlimited discount) and the highest is $70 (Verizon 5G Home Plus without the Verizon Unlimited discount). But each of the providers’ monthly costs includes all fees, taxes, equipment fees and installation charges. So the monthly charge you see is the monthly charge you pay. Lastly, none require term contracts, so you won’t have to fear any early termination fees.
How fast is 5G home internet?
In theory, 5G should enable a speedy connection that will match or better what you get with cable or fiber internet. But when it comes to the reality of 5G home internet, that’s simply not the case. To increase the reliability and coverage of the 5G internet service, most providers rely on a mix of millimeter-wave, low-band and midband technology — as well as 4G LTE in some cases — and this means home internet customers won’t see the real high-end capabilities of 5G at present.
FAQs
Is 5G Home Internet the Solution to Your Broadband Needs? — Техподдержка Рикор? ›
That said, if your home can access FTTP connections, these may be better for your requirements. As a result, although 5G could replace traditional home broadband solutions at some point in the future, right now you'll need to do a little bit of research to discover whether 5G is best for you.
Can 5G replace home broadband? ›That said, if your home can access FTTP connections, these may be better for your requirements. As a result, although 5G could replace traditional home broadband solutions at some point in the future, right now you'll need to do a little bit of research to discover whether 5G is best for you.
Does 5G work on broadband? ›Get ready for the latest innovation in home internet. The Smart 5G Hub is here. So, you get superfast speeds without the need for a fixed phone line – average speeds of 110mbps . With speeds as fast as fibre broadband, the 5G home broadband is perfect for gaming, streaming and downloading in Ultra HD and 4K.
Is 5G home broadband better than Wi-Fi? ›The honest answer to this question is “it depends”. Fibre has some very impressive theoretical speeds but 5G powered networks do also. 5G can be as fast or faster than fibre in some areas. Three Home Broadband is capable of delivering speeds up to 250Mbps.
What are the disadvantages of 5G home internet? ›While 5G home internet is fast, its speeds can be unstable
Since 5G operates over a fixed wireless connection, your speeds tend to fluctuate throughout the day, just as your cell phone internet speeds do.
You'll just need a router with a 5G SIM card slot which will then connect to the nearest cell tower and give you all the speed and convenience of this mobile network. As far as your laptop, phone, and other devices are concerned, a 5G WiFi network looks just the same as standard broadband.
Will 5G affect broadband speed? ›Faster Internet for all. Over 90% of mobile users now have broadband speeds over 2 Mbps after 5G rollout.
Is 5G home internet enough? ›Is 5G faster than cable internet? 5G internet is capable of reaching higher wireless speeds than the wireless speed generations before it, but you're not guaranteed the highest speeds and certainly not the higher speeds than you'd get with a reliable cable connection.
How do I know if my broadband is 5G? ›From Notification Panel press and hold the WiFi icon until you enter WiFi settings screen. Select the network properties (tap the gear icon or menu icon). Depending on the Android version check: Read the “Frequency” setting – shows as 2.4 or 5GHz.
Will 5G replace fiber optic? ›5G isn't going to replace wired internet anytime soon. 5G is the 5th generation in cellular networks. The first generation began in the 1990s when cellular networks were being established. The second generation began with the first text messages.
Does 5G require fiber optic cable? ›
Equally as important to note is that not only does 5G need fiber, but it needs huge fiber counts with incredible density and ability to access that through splice points that are near enough to where it is needed so you can break out.
How do I get 5G broadband? ›- A 5G-enabled router which will work with a 5G SIM card.
- A 5G SIM from a mobile provider, if a SIM is not pre-installed in the router.
- A 5G broadband plan from your chosen mobile provider.
Most satellite, fixed-wireless, Wi-Fi, and 5G signals fall into these frequencies, which means that if there's rain or clouds between the transmitter and your receiver, some of the signal will be absorbed.
Is 5G internet good for streaming? ›5G unlocked bandwidths of over 1GHz giving a massive boost to both live streaming and VoD with its 10x decrease in end-to-end latency, 20X faster speed, and higher bandwidth. With 5G technology video streaming from mobile devices also becomes quicker, smoother, and powerfully immersive.
Why is my 5G home internet slow? ›Slow speed
If you're connecting your modem for the first time, you may experience poor speeds within the first 24 hours while the firmware is updating. If you're still experiencing poor speeds after 24 hours, despite the 5G signal being green, try adjusting your WiFi settings between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz network.
For most households and businesses, 5G is not a better internet solution than fiber. This is because wired internet connections, like fiber optic cables, can provide maximum speed and unlimited bandwidth while maintaining quality internet connections across multiple devices.
Do I need to upgrade my router for 5G? ›We definitely recommend upgrading to a 5G router if you don't want to be confined to one area of your home to work in. The speeds alone make it worth it. The average speed of 4G in the UK is 24Mbps, but 5G is a whopping 12 times faster at up to 300Mbps, with the potential to reach even greater speeds in the future.
What is the maximum speed of 5G home internet? ›5G home internet has maximum potential speeds of around 1,000 Mbps, but customers online have reported download speeds of around 150 to 300 Mbps.
What is the maximum speed for 5G home broadband? ›5G home internet plans may cap speeds at 50Mbps or 100Mbps, but some offer uncapped speeds. The speed you can get will depend on the strength of the network in your area.
What are the benefits of 5G home broadband? ›5G home internet refers to the use of 5G technology to provide internet access to households. 5G, or fifth generation, is the latest iteration of mobile telecommunications technology that promises faster speeds, lower latency, and improved connectivity compared to previous generations of mobile networks such as 4G.
What is the difference between 5G home internet and regular internet? ›
Those are all wired connections from your provider to your home. 5G home internet, on the other hand, is a fixed wireless internet service, which means that the connection between your provider and your home is not wired. With 5G, you will need an indoor or outdoor 5G receiver at your house to pick up the signal.
What is 5G home broadband? ›5G Home Broadband is a broadband access service that connects your home to the internet. The 5G Home Broadband Modem connects to nearby mobile towers to deliver internet to your home. WiFi is a method to connect devices to your modem.
Why are 5G routers so expensive? ›Why are 5G routers so expensive? 5G is still relatively new technology and reliable 5G signals are still not available in many parts of the UK. As with other types of technology, once it becomes more accessible prices are likely to fall.
Is fiber cheaper than 5G? ›5G technology is considered much cheaper than Fiber connectivity for distribution but can be expensive to access. Therefore, when you need more access points through a broader spectrum, 5G is a great choice, but it is definitely not reasonable for individual users.
What cable is needed for 5G? ›For 5G to realize its potential, we need a more dense, high-capacity fiber-based network infrastructure. Fiber fronthaul cable is also important to connect the dense mesh of 5G's small cells. It's perhaps with some irony that 5G wireless solutions include fiber optic cables.
Can you use 5G with Ethernet cable? ›Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into an Ethernet port on the computer. Plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the LAN port on the bottom of the 5G Internet Gateway. If necessary, power on the device and computer. Ensure the LAN Port's LED is solid green.
Does 5G broadband need a phone line? ›No. Whether it's for home or business, the 5G Internet plan does not support a landline or fixed phone line service right now.
Is a 5G hub the same as broadband? ›In terms of how your other devices interact with the 5G Hub, it's no different to using a traditional fibre broadband service. Your 5G Hub router plays the same role as a traditional fibre broadband router and produces a normal wi-fi network that your other devices can connect to.
Do you need a 5G phone for 5G broadband? ›What do I need to get 5G? You'll need a 5G device and a 5G-ready mobile or data plan to connect to Telstra 5G. You'll also need to be in an area that has 5G coverage.
Is 5G different than broadband? ›The main difference between the two is how much bandwidth they can deliver to your device. A 5G connection has more capacity for downloading data at very high speeds, upwards of 1 gigabit per second.
Does 5G run on fiber optic cable? ›
Equally as important to note is that not only does 5G need fiber, but it needs huge fiber counts with incredible density and ability to access that through splice points that are near enough to where it is needed so you can break out.