SEATTLE — You’ve heard the phrase 5G when it comes to smartphones – but what does it really mean? We talked with Verizon tech expert David Weissmann to learn about Verizon’s growing 5G network and why we should be interested in this next generation technology.
For more information about Verizon 5G, visit verizon.com/5G
What is 5G?
5G is next generation wireless technology that powers the phones that people use. It enables augmented reality on your phone to visit a museum, intelligent street lighting that makes your city safer, or even remote robotic surgery, 5G will change how we engage with technology.
Do I have 5G on my phone now?
5G is real, is available across the country and its footprint continues to grow. If you have an older device, it likely uses 4G LTE which continues to serve our customers reliably and will into the future. In fact, it is the investments in 4G LTE that we’ve made that have allowed us to take a leadership position in 5G.
That said, it may be time to consider upgrading to a Verizon 5G phone which would give you access to our 5G Nationwide and 5G Ultra Wideband services - which means you get the benefit of the nation’s best 4G LTE service as well as 5G technology - included as part of your plan.
You mentioned 2 types of 5G, how are they different?
5G Nationwide already covers 230 million people in over 2,700 cities. We are investing in and continuing to innovate on the 5G Nationwide network for the foreseeable future to make sure it’s on the cutting edge of coverage, speed and reliability.
It’s the way we’ve been developing our networks for years. And our networks are consistently the most awarded by independent third parties.
When we launched 4G LTE 10 years ago that network was fast, but the streaming video and complicated apps that are on our phones today didn't exist. We continually invested in equipment and innovation and the 4G phone you use now is more than 15x faster than it was when we introduced it and can handle tech we didn’t even dream about in 2005.
Similar to how we’ve advanced our 4G LTE network, you’ll see us now invest in our 5G Nationwide network. It’s a new network that will only get faster as we develop it.
5G Ultra Wideband is a glimpse into that future, currently available in parts of 60 cities it offers mind blowing speeds. Even the capabilities of our 5G UW network have seen upgrades since we launched in 2019, including reaching 3-4x faster speeds than your home internet. You can download a movie in seconds.
The best part is if you are on a Verizon unlimited plan, you get access to 5G Nationwide and Ultra Wideband at no additional cost.
It sounds like 5G is a game changer, how will it change how we live?
Engineers are working in our 5G Labs across the country developing solutions that change how technology impacts our life. I have 2 examples, but there is so much going on in the 5G development community.
It is already changing how we experience sports and gaming. For instance, the Super Stadium app allows fans to take control of how they watch NFL games, whether they are in the stadium or at home. They can switch between up to 7 camera angles, see real time stats and use augmented reality features. With a 5G connection, you can also play League of Legends Wild Rift on your phone in ways that could only previously be done on your PC.
How will 5G impact businesses?
Our partners in the entertainment industry are already developing augmented reality experiences that put you into the center of the action. With not much live music now, there is definitely an appetite for that.
Car manufacturers are using 5G to usher in the era of connected vehicles.
Manufacturers are asking us to bring 5G Ultra Wideband to their factory floors to improve productivity and worker safety.
Why Verizon 5G?
Our customers deserve the best, we build 5G Right. Building networks is in our DNA. We were the first in the world to launch 5G, and we continue to innovate on our 5G networks. We have a track record for delivering network performance, our 4G network is the most awarded in the industry and we have the most technologically advanced 5G Nationwide network.
Sponsored by Verizon. For more information about Verizon 5G, visit verizon.com/5G