Tag: speeds

The Factors Impacting Your 5G Bandwidth Speeds

The dawn of 5G promised lightning-fast internet speeds, heralding a new era of connectivity. However, the reality often falls short of these lofty expectations, leaving many users frustrated and wondering why their 5G speeds are not as blazing fast as advertised. Several factors can affect your 5G bandwidth speeds, ranging from technical limitations to network congestion. Let’s delve into some key points to understand what could be influencing your 5G experience.

Frequency Band(s) Your Modem or Phone is Connected To

One of the primary determinants of your 5G bandwidth speed is the frequency band your device is connected to. 5G operates across three main frequency bands: low, mid, and high. Each band has its advantages and limitations. Low-band 5G offers wider coverage but relatively modest speed enhancements compared to existing 4G LTE networks. Mid-band 5G strikes a balance between coverage and speed, providing faster speeds than low-band but with middling coverage. High-band, also known as mmWave, offers the highest speeds but suffers from limited coverage and poor penetration through obstacles. Therefore, your proximity to a cell tower and the band it employs can significantly impact your 5G speeds.

Limitations of Your Modem or Phone

The capabilities of your modem or phone play a crucial role in determining the speeds you can achieve. Different devices support different frequency bands, and their performance may vary accordingly. For instance, a device equipped with support for high-band frequencies will likely achieve faster speeds in areas where high-band 5G is available compared to a device limited to low-band frequencies. Upgrading to newer devices that support a wider range of frequency bands can potentially enhance your 5G experience.

User Load at the Cell Tower

Network congestion is another key factor that can affect 5G bandwidth speeds. If too many users are connected to the same cell tower simultaneously, it can lead to decreased speeds for everyone. During peak hours or in densely populated areas, the demand for bandwidth may exceed the capacity of the cell tower, resulting in slower speeds for users. Network operators are continuously expanding infrastructure and optimizing networks to mitigate congestion, but it remains a persistent challenge in densely populated areas.

Limitations on Your Data Plan

Even if your device and the network infrastructure are capable of delivering high-speed 5G connectivity, your data plan may impose limitations. Some data plans throttle speeds after reaching a certain threshold of data usage, while others prioritize certain types of traffic, such as video streaming or gaming, which can impact overall bandwidth speeds. Understanding the terms and conditions of your data plan and choosing an appropriate plan that aligns with your usage patterns is essential for maximizing your 5G experience.

The Speed of Your WiFi or Ethernet Adapter

Lastly, the speed of your WiFi or Ethernet adapter can affect the performance of your 5G connection, especially when using a home or office network. Even if you have a fast 5G connection, a slow WiFi router or Ethernet adapter can become a bottleneck, limiting the speeds you can achieve on your devices. Upgrading to newer networking equipment capable of handling higher speeds can help unleash the full potential of your 5G connection.

As you can see, achieving optimal 5G bandwidth speeds involves a combination of factors. This includes the frequency band your device is connected to, the capabilities of your device, network congestion, data plan limitations, and the speed of your networking equipment. By understanding these factors and taking appropriate measures, users can enhance their 5G experience and unlock the full potential of next-generation connectivity.

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How T-Mobile is “Boosting” 5G Mid-Band Speeds

T-Mobile announced another 5G milestone on Tuesday. They are now combining three channels of mid-band spectrum on their 5G network. In tests the company achieved network speeds of 3Gbps. While they weren’t specific, T-Mobile said this technology will become available to customers “later this year.”

When we look at what’s possible with 3Gbps (or 3,000Mbps), it’s comparable to the speeds of mmWave. This is the high-band 5G, which has a limited range, but allows you to download a movie in seconds. Mid-band 5G speeds normally max out around 200Mbps. However, T-Mobile is making some adjustments within the network to boost those speeds significantly.

Technically speaking, T-Mobile is using carrier aggregation to combine different sections of spectrum. Carrier aggregation, as you may be used to it, is how LTE Advanced and 5G modems combine frequency bands to achieve more bandwidth speed. So, it has nothing to do with combining multiple “carriers” as T-Mobile is using only their owned spectrum. 

This also is not something new for the company, or the 5G world. T-Mobile is already using this technology to combine two 2.5GHz 5G channels on some parts of its network. This most recent test increased speeds by adding a third channel.

Verizon had also used the technology to demonstrate speeds of 4.2Gbps on its 5G network back in 2020. The difference, from T-Mobile’s point of view, is that they are the first to use three-carrier aggregation on a live, standalone 5G network with a commercially available device: the Samsung Galaxy S22. That being said, those with a Galaxy S22 on T-Mobile’s network will be “among the first” to have access to this faster type of 5G.

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Verizon 5G Map with Ultra Wide

Verizon recently updated its Verizon 5G nationwide coverage map with its new “Ultra Wideband” C-Band coverage. We now know exactly where Verizon says more than 90 million Americans will be able to get this new C-Band service. 

According to Verizon Wireless, it offers two types of 5G service: “5G Ultra Wideband and 5G Nationwide.

  • 5G Ultra Wideband is Verizon’s fastest 5G. According to Verizon, 5G Ultra Wideband experiences speeds up to twn times faster and respond quicker than 4G, thanks to its access to both 5G high bands and low bands. 5G Ultra Wideband speeds range from 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps.
  • 5G Nationwide runs alongside 4G LTE; it delivers a similar experience to Verizon’s 4G LTE network, which provides a convenient, reliable, and widely available 5G network.

Only Verizon’s top Unlimited plans provide access to 5G Ultra Wideband and 5G Nationwide. All other plans provide access to 5G Nationwide only.

Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband Coverage Map Accuracy

According to some users, Verizon’s updated 5G Ultra Wideband coverage map isn’t very accurate now. These users found that C-Band was available in some of the indicated areas on the coverage map but was non-existent in others. The current Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband coverage map seems to be more of a projection of where C-Band is and where it will eventually be in the near future. Then again, coverage maps generally can’t meet the level we’d like them to be at, which is to tell us how good the coverage is here or there. 

Aside from allowing phones access to double or triple LTE speeds, Verizon plans to utilize the new airwaves to expand its $50/month wireless home internet offering. Coverage for wireless home internet won’t be available everywhere and will depend on available network capacity.

Verizon Rural C-Band Coverage

To 5Gstore’s surprise, there appears to be C-Band coverage in more rural areas than we’ve seen before, including in some areas that are located hundreds of miles away from large cities. These include areas in southwest Indiana and small towns outside of New York City, as well as some remote areas in Arkansas and Alabama. 

5G Exclusion Zones

“Exclusion zones” (or “buffer zones”), to which Verizon agreed with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are apparent in Verizon’s 5G coverage map around major airports. Major airports and their grounds, such as New York’s LaGuardia, Chicago’s Midway and Dallas’ Love Field, appear to have 5G coverage. However, there are some exclusions in varying directions.

Check back often to 5Gstore! We will provide you with the most recent Verizon 5G coverage maps available, as well as the information you need to stay connected.

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