All You Need to Know About the different types of 5G deployed in US

After a slow start 5G is now gaining momentum across the US. All major carriers such as T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon have nationwide deployments of 5G that cover more than 200 million users. The top phones over the last two years– such as iPhone 13, Pixel 6, iPhone 13, Pixel 6 and Samsung Galaxy S22– also include 5G..

Next-generation networks across all major providers are expected to grow in 2022, creating the groundwork for future developments like replacing broadband at home or futuristic ideas like virtual reality and self-driving vehicles which are predicted to take over the next 10 years.

However, with all the activity from competing providers, there are many names for 5G – some of which don’t even represent 5G.

Learn about the three types of 5G

In the case of 5G networks There are three distinct types that you should be aware about. All are recognized as 5G, as well Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile have committed to using a variety of versions in the future to provide better networks Each will offer you different experience.

Millimeter-wave: High-speed, but it comes with a drawback.

The first flavor is referred to as millimeter wave (aka millimeter-wave, also known as mmWave). The technology has been used in recent decades from Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile however it’s perhaps most famous for its role as the 5G network that Verizon had previously announced across the nation..

With a significantly greater frequency than previous mobile networks, millimeter-wave makes an extremely fast connection that sometimes reaches more than 1 gigabit per second. The disadvantage? The higher frequency can be a challenge when it comes to covering long distances and penetrates buildings or glass.

Outside of some 5G-equipped venues, arenas and airports, these zones of coverage are likely to be nothing more than an intersection. One option is to add additional cellular radios, however, in many cases, this isn’t an alternative. At present consider it an upgraded Wi-Fi hotspot.

Low-band: Wide variety, but slower speeds

Low-band 5G is the basis of all three companies with their nationwide 5G offerings. Although at times, they are quicker than 4G LTE, these networks do not provide the insane speeds that higher-frequency technologies, like millimeter wave can offer. However, they function similar to 4G networks in terms coverage, and can provide coverage to large areas. They can also be used indoors.

T-Mobile provides coverage to more than 300 million users with their low band 5G service while Verizon covers more than 300 million, and AT&T covers more than 255 million with their network of low band 5G.

Midband The middle ground between coverage and speed.

Between them is midband, which is the middle part of 5G. It is much faster than the low band however, it has greater coverage than millimeter wave. This technology was the driving force is the reason Sprint’s first 5G rollout is one of the primary factors behind why T-Mobile has worked so hard over the last few years in order to purchase the struggling company and is the reason T-Mobile has been able to offer an early, significant lead in 5G speed.

The network currently covers 200 million users with their midband 5G network. The carrier has stated that it anticipates average speeds of downloads on this midband signal to reach 400 megabits/second with speeds reaching 1Gbps at peak. The company plans to reach 260 million users by 2022’s end and 300 million by 2023.

Although T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon have plenty of spectrum in low band the midband spectrum has been employed in the army, which makes it a scarce commodity despite its benefits for cell phones.

But this has changed. The Federal Communications Commission auction in 2021 saw a significant increase in middleband spectrum (known as C-band) accessible to wireless carriers and the three main operators spent billions of dollars on radio waves. Verizon as well as AT&T were the top spending players in the auction for C-band The networks are being operational on January. 19, 2022 following several delays caused by opposition by authorities like the Federal Aviation Authority and the aviation industry.

Verizon has a network that covers more than 100 million users with its C-band network at present in the present and plans to reach 175 million users by 2022’s end by midband 5G. AT&T is slower in its midband rollout but plans to ramp up its network deployments in the second quarter of 2022. It hopes to reach 200 million users using midband 5G by time the end of the year.

It’s crucial to understand that there is no specific spectrum or band is more or less than the other. All three carriers have been talking about the possibility of incorporating all three types of spectrum into an even more complete network.