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Facts About 5G


SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION: HOW RELIABLE IS 5G HOME INTERNET REALLY?

LONG STORY SHORT

 * 5G Home Internet is marketed as a fast alternative to broadband Internet, but
   it is not yet capable of being as consistent or reliable.
 * 5G Home Internet speed relies on the same cell towers as 5G mobile devices,
   which means they are essentially competing for capacity with cell phones, and
   impacted by the same obstructions such as buildings, trees, and inclement
   weather.
 * The “G” in 5G does not stand for gigabit speeds. Instead, it refers to the
   fifth generation of wireless networks dating back to the 1990s.

JUMP AHEAD

What is 5G Home Internet?

5G Home Internet vs 5G Mobile

Is 5G Worth It? Your 5G Questions, Answered.

Experts Weigh In on The Future of 5G

5G Home Internet or Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is an evolving technology that
comes with the promise of fast speeds and connectivity for your household. But
there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the current state of 5G Home
Internet, the differences between it and 5G Mobile, as well as traditional
Internet service providers (ISPs) who are expanding their fiber-based networks
to reach millions more Americans. While the technology behind 5G is a great
choice when it comes to mobile data on your phone and for serving remote areas
with limited broadband connectivity choices like DSL, the same cannot be said
for powering most home Internet needs.

Sources: T-Mobile; Verizon; Ookla.
For specific broadband provider speeds, click here.

5G networks are mobile networks. This means they are inherently less reliable
than wired networks due to mobile users in the same area sharing the same
capacity, as well as the same signal obstructions like weather, buildings, and
trees. This may lead to unwanted speed fluctuations and lagging in response
during video calling and gaming — what insiders refer to as latency. 

Learn more about 5G and how it compares to other Internet options below.




WHAT IS 5G HOME INTERNET?

In simple terms, the “G” in 5G stands for “generation.” This means that a 5G
network is the fifth generation of Internet networks dating back to the 1990s.
This does NOT mean a G as in gigabit speed pertaining to how fast 5G Internet
is.

More technically, 5G is a set of standards for delivering Internet speeds faster
than the prior 4G/LTE standard using cell towers. There are two ways carriers
use 5G. The first, 5G Mobile, offers an impressive increase in Internet speeds
on mobile phones. It provides a much better on-the-go experience for streaming
videos or downloading large files. The second type is called Fixed Wireless
Internet (FWA) — often referred to as 5G Internet. 5G Home Internet uses the
same mobile network as these phones, but it brings the service into a house
using a device that converts the mobile signal into Wi-Fi.  

This can be a nice upgrade for those who are limited to DSL or some forms of
satellite Internet service. But when it comes down to a 5G Internet vs cable
face-off: 5G is no match for fiber-based broadband services from broadband
companies and other ISPs. Not only are those networks dramatically faster, but
they are also more reliable, secure, and private. Because all 5G Internet relies
on the same cell towers as 5G mobile devices, they are essentially competing for
capacity. When many mobile users are using the 5G network at once, the 5G Home
Internet users must wait in line behind them for connectivity. And because of
the nature of the 5G frequencies, there must be more towers closer together and
lower to the ground to deliver optimal service. 

What does this mean when it comes to streaming?
Many 5G Home Internet users are finding it difficult to watch their favorite
shows and networks. This is because streaming service providers require knowing
where the customer is located to provide the right local channels and verify the
customer is in an area authorized to access content. Home Internet services
based on mobile networks have trouble with this since they were built for users
on the go. Forums like Quora are filling up with users having trouble keeping up
with modern streamers' binge-worthy standards.




5G IS A POWERFUL OPTION FOR STAYING CONNECTED WHEN ON MOBILE DEVICES, BUT HOW
DOES IT MEASURE UP FOR HOME INTERNET USAGE?

The truth is, 5G Internet can be a good solution for people who don’t have other
options, like certain rural areas still waiting for the bridge between the
digital divide to extend to their locations with cable broadband and other
fiber-based services. Otherwise, using 5G for home Internet will result in
slower speeds and lagging as it shares space with mobile user traffic. Think of
it as a congested interstate highway, with everyone headed for the same exit. 

 
*When it comes to latency, the lower the better. Latency refers to real-time
data and the prevention of lagging, something that is especially important to
gamers, and remote students and professionals joining video calls. Learn more
about latency below.

(Sources: T-Mobile; Verizon; Ookla)

While the simplicity and familiarity of using your mobile provider for your home
Internet connection is appealing, it can quickly become frustrating. Or, as
Brandon Hill of Tom’s Hardware puts it: “My love affair with T-Mobile Home
Internet quickly turned to divorce.”

Unless you and your family are planning to adopt a “nocturnal” lifestyle to get
the kind of connectivity you need for work, school, gaming, and more, 5G Home
Internet is probably not the right fit. 

If you are among the majority of Internet users who are lucky enough to have
access to wired broadband Internet, you will experience faster, more reliable,
secure and private service with those ISPs. Click here to find a fast connection
from a wired broadband provider near you.

> According to Speedtest Intelligence® results from Ookla®, the global leader in
> fixed broadband and mobile network testing applications, 5G Home Internet
> fails to consistently maintain broadband speeds over 25 Mbps during peak
> times.

Looking for services for your business? Click here

 


IS 5G WORTH IT? YOUR 5G QUESTIONS, ANSWERED.

HOW FAST IS 5G INTERNET?

So how fast is 5G Internet, really? As mentioned earlier, 5G stands for fifth
generation – and NOT 5 gigabits per second of service. 5G Home Internet users
will experience speeds at a fraction of what wired broadband services can
provide.

IS 5 GHZ THE SAME AS 5G HOME INTERNET?

Oftentimes, people will see 5 GHz on their WiFi router and assume they have 5G
Internet access at home. These are two different things. When it comes to Wi-Fi
routers, 5 GHz refers to the 5 gigahertz radio frequency the router uses to
transmit your Internet signal to the devices in your home – think of how
different radio stations have different frequency slots they broadcast in. Most
modern routers have both a 2.4 and 5 GHz channel. The 5G in 5G Home Internet
just refers to the fifth generation of mobile data. It uses a number of
different “channels” or frequency bands to deliver the service, all of which are
prone to the same interference issues that traditional cellular service faces. 

IS 5G AVAILABLE IN MY AREA?

You’ve probably heard cell phone and Internet companies speak of “nationwide” 5G
coverage. While there is service in places all over the country, consumers can
expect to have vastly different experiences for 5G Internet depending on where
they are located — i.e. rural and urban areas, close to busy highways or places
where people gather like sports stadiums or office complexes.

WHAT IS LATENCY?

When it comes to latency, the lower the better. 5G wireless networks have higher
latency than cable broadband and other kinds of fiber-based wired connects for
two reasons:

 1. 5G Home Internet users have to wait in line behind all the 5G mobile users
    on that network who always have priority. So, while the you are on a Zoom
    call or trying to advance in a video game, your Zoom presentation or your
    next virtual move is put into a queue behind mobile users’ leading to poor
    quality, delayed speeds, and fuzzy imagery and audio.
 2. Another reason latency is higher for 5G networks is they were designed and
    built with wireless devices in mind. The signals move through the air and
    navigate around obstructions in order to keep devices connected while
    on-the-go – and they do this really well for mobile devices, which are their
    number one priority. Wired broadband networks, on the other hand, are
    inherently more stable because the fiber and other hard-wired parts of these
    higher capacity networks are connecting to fixed end points like homes and
    businesses. This makes them more stable and easier to optimize for things
    like gaming and Zooming.




EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON THE FUTURE OF 5G

> "For those that have experienced extended outages, been fed untruths by
> T-Mobile employees, or have been sent multiple hardware replacements in vain
> in hopes of solving the issues, the positive potential [of 5G Home Internet]
> doesn't matter." 
> 
> ― Brandon Hill, Tom's Hardware 

> "While the [5G] technology is there, there are still issues to be addressed,
> and key amongst these is resilience. Utility networks are used to reliability,
> and mobile networks aren't there yet. Power autonomy within the communications
> network is essential and must be improved."
> 
> ― James Irvine, University of Strathclyde

> "As 5G is an emerging technology, it needs to reach a certain level of both
> adoption and maturity before comparative performance claims can be made in new
> markets... This well-intended desire of operators to show off new capabilities
> has led to dubious claims being made in the market." 
> 
> ― Brian Connelly, Ookla ® 

> "Wireless providers are still in the early stages of building their 5G Fixed
> Wireless networks, and oftentimes customers end up surfing the web on a
> slower, 4G LTE network instead of the 5G network they expected"
> 
> ― Charter Communications Team

© 2022 CTAM: Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing

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