Tag: Verizon

What Frequency Bands Does 5G Use?

If you’re in the market for a 5G cellular modem or router, you may want to consider its supported frequency bands. There are three types of 5G. Sub-6 (also called FR1) refers to low band frequencies below 6GHz, and mmWave (also called FR2) refers to frequencies over 24GHz. You also have mid band, or the C-band, which covers 4GHz to 8GHz. However, carriers are more focused on the range of 3.7 to 4.2GHz.

When 5G was initially rolled out, it used Sub-6 5G that stayed mainly below the 2GHz range. These frequencies were already used by 4G/LTE and even older 3G networks, so carriers had the necessary licenses to use them. This made it quick and easy for AT&T and T-Mobile to roll out 5G on top of their existing networks.

To this day, the most widely available 5G service in the U.S. is running on low band frequencies. Not only because it was the first service available, but because it covers the most distance. The downside is that in a lot of cases, the connection is only as good as LTE. 

C-band is the next best for 5G. While the distance it covers is not as much as Sub-6, it does offer a better 5G experience. In comparison, mmWave runs off the higher frequencies so it does not travel as far. This however, is the truest version of 5G with its significantly faster speeds, lower latency, and high reliability. 

Here’s a breakdown of the bands to look out for in the device specifications:

Sub-6/ 5G NR: n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n46, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79, n83

C-band: n77, n78, n79

mmWave: n257, n258, n259, n260, n261

Due to its availability, a majority of the 5G products we carry will only support Sub-6/ NR (New Radio) bands. There are a handful that will also support all C-band frequencies. To check those out, see below.

Should you be lucky enough to have mmWave coverage in your location, stay tuned for the Cradlepoint W4005. 

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What is the Current 5G Experience in the U.S?

Over the course of 3 months (Mar 16 – Jun 13, 2022), OpenSignal gathered 5G data points from each of the major U.S. cellular carriers – Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. This data was put into a report they call the 5G Experience Report, and it was just released. Big surprise…it shows T-Mobile as the winner in most categories. Check out the overall results below.

Taking a closer look, each category was analyzed at the national and regional levels. T-Mobile won with Download speeds over 98Mbps faster than Verizon and AT&T. Overall, the total was 171Mbps. This is T-Mobile’s sixth win in a row. The Upload speed tests were a bit closer, with only a 3Mbps difference between T-Mobile and Verizon. T-Mobile’s total was 17.8Mbps, and again, this was their sixth time in a row to win this category. Verizon and AT&T customers may still want to be hopeful though. They are the only two carriers that are using C-Band deployments. As these deployments increase, we suspect these reports may change. Still, T-Mobile has quite a lead.

Not only do T-Mobile customers receive the best overall speeds, but they can also access them in more places than other carriers’ networks. OpenSignal confirms this by awarding T-Mobile with the best 5G Reach. The report also confirms that T-Mobile has the best 5G Availability. It shows that T-Mobile customers were connected to 5G 2 times more often than AT&T customers, and over 3 times more often than Verizon customers.

With regards to testing 5G Games experience and Voice App experience, the point scale was 0 to 100. This is where Verizon won out against the others, but all were within a small margin. 

According to OpenSignal, “a good Games experience means that the gameplay experience was generally controllable and users received immediate feedback between their actions and the outcomes in the game. Most users did not experience a delay between their actions and the game.”

You may also be wondering what qualifies a good 5G Voice App Experience too. These tests “quantify the experience of Opensignal users when using over-the-top voice apps — such as WhatsApp, Skype and Facebook Messenger — on an operator’s 5G network. It uses a model derived from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) approach for quantifying overall voice call quality and a series of calibrated technical parameters. This model characterizes the exact relationship between the technical measurements and perceived call quality.”

Want to know more about OpenSignal’s metrics and what they mean? Check out their article here.

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Who Has the Best Mobile Network?

T-Mobile does it for the second year in a row – they’ve beat out Verizon and AT&T in recent tests performed by the PCMag team. They’ve been running these “Fastest Mobile Network” tests for the past 12 years and with this year came some changes. They opted for electric vehicles for the more than 10,000 mile drive across the country. They used new software that tracks dropped calls and provides a better measure of reliability. Also, while previous years were in search of America’s fastest mobile network, they are now on the search for the best network. 

Using the Samsung Galaxy S22+ phone, the team stopped in 30 cities and six rural regions where they compared performance between AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Of these 30 cities, T-Mobile won in 18, Verizon won in eight and AT&T won in four. According to the team, “We use people, not square miles, to determine our scores. Rural areas comprise 16% of our score, similar to the 14-20% of the US population classified as rural.”

The reason for using the Samsung Galaxy over other 5G phones? PCMag said, “We’re using the Samsung Galaxy S22+ because it has shown the best network performance in our tests. With its Qualcomm X65 modem, the S22+ can hold onto weak signals longer than phones from previous years, and it supports all the new 5G bands carriers are implementing, including the frequencies AT&T is launching later this year.”

Due to the new software used this time around, the results aren’t directly comparable to those from previous years. For example, both T-Mobile and Verizon see dramatically increased nationwide speeds this year as they expand their mid-band 5G networks. However, as AT&T’s speeds decline, it has added very little capacity while data demands grew.

Looking closer at those speed results, T-Mobile also won here, specifically in upload and download speeds. The carrier was the fastest in 19 cities out of 30, compared to Verizon with nine and AT&T with two. PCMag also reported that T-Mobile is performing better in rural areas, but explained that it still has more rural dead zones in the Northeast than Verizon and AT&T do.

So how exactly is it that T-Mobile was capable of these wins? Their mid-band 5G network. This is what the carrier built from Sprint’s network after acquiring the company for $26 billion in 2020. They’ve also begun using carrier aggregation within the mid-band network to achieve faster speeds. 

For Verizon and AT&T, they are still working on closing the gap by utilizing mid-band spectrum they obtained in a recent FCC auction. Verizon has already gotten started with its 5G network, but AT&T has been waiting for the equipment required to build it out. AT&T hopes to have more 5G network service up and running by next year.

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When Will the FAA Allow 5G Enhancements Around Airports?

It has been months since Verizon and AT&T agreed to temporarily limit their 5G expansion plans due to concerns about how the new wireless standard could interfere with aircraft tools. All this time, the Federal Aviation Administration has been working with the cellular carriers to find a solution to using 5G safely at and around airports. They are currently in a “phased approach” to the 5G launch.

On Friday, they all reached an agreement that will allow the carriers to expand their 5G service around some airports while continuing to temporarily hold off elsewhere. This will allow companies time to retrofit their aircrafts with equipment that is less susceptible to 5G interference. Part of the plan is to have those with the most vulnerable (to 5G interference) regional aircrafts be required to retrofit the planes with radio frequency filters by the end of the year.

As both the FAA and carriers work together they have also identified certain airports near which the telecommunications companies will be able to enhance their service with the least risk of causing disruptions to flight schedules.

Per the press release, acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said, “We believe we have identified a path that will continue to enable aviation and 5G C-band wireless to safely co-exist.” 

The latest release noted that AT&T and Verizon had previously agreed to limit the service until July 5 and have since offered “to continue with some level of voluntary mitigations for another year.” When that time is up, it’s expected that airlines and other operators will be done with the work required to enhance their aircraft with the appropriate equipment. This would then allow the wireless companies “to operate their networks in urban areas with minimal restrictions.” 

“Today’s announcement identifies a path forward that will enable Verizon to make full use of our C-Band spectrum for 5G around airports on an accelerated and defined schedule,” Verizon Chief Administrative Officer Craig Silliman said in the Friday press release. “Under this agreement reached with the FAA, we will lift the voluntary limitations on our 5G network deployment around airports in a staged approach over the coming months meaning even more consumers and businesses will benefit from the tremendous capabilities of 5G technology.”

An AT&T spokesperson also commented, stating that the company is moving toward seeing all voluntary restrictions lapse by next summer.

“Through close coordination with the FAA over the last several months, we have developed a more tailored approach to controlling signal strength around runways that allows us to activate more towers and increase signal strength,” the AT&T spokesperson said. “Though our FCC licenses allow us to fully deploy much-needed C-Band spectrum right now, we have chosen in good faith to implement these more tailored precautionary measures so that airlines have additional time to retrofit equipment.”

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Verizon Price Increase Coming – Who Will Be Affected?

It’s been about two weeks now that AT&T legacy subscribers got a shock that AT&T would be raising their prices in June. Verizon is now jumping on that same bandwagon and increasing prices for consumer and business accounts.  

Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg first mentioned increasing prices back in April, saying that inflation was to blame. While he did not say they were definitely coming, he instead said that the carrier had “plans to be prepared for what it takes,” including “different types of cost adjustments.”

It has actually been two years since Verizon has raised prices for these customers. Although back in late 2021, the carrier increased prices on customers grandfathered into older plans.

As first reported by Bloomberg (and confirmed by Verizon reps), Verizon has taken an interesting approach to how they are advertising the rising prices. Instead of raising the actual plans, they will instead begin adding a new “economic adjustment charge” to your bill every month.

According to Verizon, the “economic adjustment charge” will be $1.35 per voice line for consumers. Note that we said voice as the increase applies only to voice lines per account. 

Business customers will receive a larger increase every month, with data plans increasing by $2.20 per month and “basic service plans” increasing by $0.98 per month.

Verizon began alerting consumers of this new “economic adjustment charge” yesterday, while it has also been in direct contact with “some of its larger corporate clients” recently. They say pricing will go up starting in June and the “economic adjustment charge” will apply to ALL plans.

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How Do Cellular Home Internet Services Compare?

After roughly a year of getting their 5G home Internet services rolled out, both Verizon and T-Mobile are not only increasing their coverage areas, but their customer base as well. Just recently, T-Mobile reported they had expanded their service’s availability from 30 to 40 million households. For Verizon, they had announced back in January that their service reaches 20 million households.  

AT&T doesn’t have 5G home internet, but it does offer a 4G LTE option to rural customers and businesses. UScellular has also been working on its own 5G home Internet too, but it’s still very limited. 

In comparison, Verizon offers the fastest potential speeds for both downloads and uploads, yet T-Mobile‘s service is more widely available. Right now, we only have a max download speed for UScellular, but expect to see more results in the future. 

With both, keep in mind that your average 5G speeds will vary based on your location and coverage. And yeah, AT&T’s 4G home internet is abysmally slow.

Download Speeds

  • T-Mobile = 33 to 182 Mbps
  • Verizon = 85 to 1,000 Mbps
  • AT&T (4G Only) = 10 to 25 Mbps
  • UScellular = up to 300 Mbps

Upload Speeds

  • T-Mobile = 8 to 25 Mbps
  • Verizon = 10 to 50 Mbps
  • AT&T (4G Only) = up to 1 Mbps

Something to keep in mind about these speeds – at least with Verizon – is you must sign up for the 5G Home Plus plan to gain access to speeds between 300 to 1000 Mbps. 

Aside from reasonable pricing options, both Verizon and T-Mobile offer trial periods to test the service. T-Mobile allows for 15 days, while Verizon allows for 30 days. Here’s an outline of some comparisons between T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T plans (we’re still waiting on UScellular to release more details):

5G home internet detailsT-MobileVerizonAT&T
Price with cellular plan$30/month$25-35/month$59.99/month
Price without cellular plan$50/month$50-70/month$69.99/month
Contract❌❌❌
Taxes and feesIncludedIncludedExtra
Data cap❌❌350 GB
Self-setup✅✅❌
Installation fee❌❌$99
Price lockLifetime2-3 years❌

Given the information, it may still be difficult for those of us with access to wired broadband services to switch to cellular. However, with the pricing, it could very well make up for the slower bandwidth. Or you might consider adding it as a backup to your broadband service if you cannot afford any downtime. Either way, there’s options with risk free trials so check them out today!

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How 5G and Edge Computing Can Change Broadcasting

The broadcasting industry is looking to evolve by leveraging 5G and edge computing. This is because broadcasters are searching for ways to change content delivery methods, boost revenue opportunities, and personalize their offerings.

Bloomberg Media recently started a trial partnership to work on this project with Verizon, Zixi, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). They are trying to uncover how 5G and edge computing could transform the broadcasting industry. The end goal is to find ways to deliver improved live feeds and other content, and different ways in which viewers can consume news and broadcast content.

As time goes by, more of us consumers expect to have on demand content that is available to them 24/7. This is why we’re seeing more content via mobile applications. The key is to streamline the process while also providing high-quality video with low buffering requirements. 

The team has taken to performing trials that leverage products from each company. The products include Verizon 5G Edge, AWS Wavelength (a real-time computing platform), and Zixi’s SDVP and ZEN Master control plane (to reduce latency). These proof-of-concept trials demonstrate how 5G and edge computing rollouts could create a new generation of streaming and broadcast services. Also, by deploying content straight to 5G-enabled user devices, it could significantly reduce the strain for media companies.

Bloomberg media conducted trials using Bloomberg TV+ and 4K ultra-high-definition content that was streamed directly to 5G connected user devices. These tests are meant to help discover the edge of broadcast capability with 4k UHD.

If tests are successful media companies could then decide to stream ultra-high-definition content without the use of satellites. This is certainly something that could speed up capability. Bloomberg will also demonstrate how these products allow companies to split video into multiple streams for broadcast across multiple platforms. 

Another future trial will hopefully help to open content up to more consumers, by demonstrating real-time translation, subtitles, and transcription services.

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Does T-Mobile Still Have the Fastest 5G?

You may be familiar with Ookla, or their famous speedtest.net website that lets users easily test their Internet connection’s latency and download and upload speeds. They also run quarterly reports comparing the results between different Internet providers, both fixed and mobile. 

We’d like to highlight the mobile results only. This first quarter’s results were just released Monday and they compare median download speed, median latency, consistency score, and availability. 

Results reveal T-Mobile is still in the lead, and at the top of each category tested. The only change is that the gap between T-Mobile and Verizon has lessened. Here are just some results; median download speeds:

  1. T-Mobile: 191.12Mbps (up from 187.12Mbps)
  2. Verizon: 107.25Mbps (up from 78.52Mbps)
  3. AT&T: 68.43Mbps (down from 68.82Mbps)

With regards to testing by state and city, Minnesota took the top spot for fastest median mobile download speed during Q1 2022 at 92.31 Mbps. Overall, T-Mobile was the fastest mobile provider in 42 states. Results were too close to call in 6 states. 

St. Paul, Minnesota had the fastest median mobile download speed among the 100 most populous cities in the U.S. Speeds topped out at 136.72 Mbps. T-Mobile was the fastest operator in 78 of these cities. Verizon Wireless was the fastest provider in 10 cities, and US Cellular was fastest in one city (Madison, WI). The results were statistically too close to call in 11 cities.

Per T-Mobile news, their President of Technology has this to say about today’s win: 

“Our 5G network is delivering a powerful performance boost and it’s resonating, with over 40% of our customers now using a 5G device, accounting for more than HALF of our network traffic. And we’re just getting started – this leading network experience will continue to improve as we accelerate our 5G build this year and beyond.”

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Will Cellular Carriers Continue to Invest in mmWave?

Many of the cellular carriers are, or have dedicated a large portion of their capex budgets this year, but this doesn’t mean that millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G deployments are done. Mobile Experts, in a recent report, say that it expects mmWave investments will return in late 2023 and 2024.

Companies like Verizon and AT&T have spent billions this year and will continue to next year, all in effort to deploy 5G in their C-band spectrum. Looking at numbers, Verizon is expected to dedicate about $5 billion toward C-band this year and AT&T said it will spend $6 billion in 2023, much of which will go to C-band. 

Dan McNamara, principal analyst with Mobile Experts, expects carriers will need to cover more locations with mmWave as data on the C-Band 5G networks increases. He says this because one of the fundamental values of mmWave 5G is that it offers huge capacity gains and delivers high data rates.

“The good news about C-band is that there is a lot of investment in it. And as it gets rolled out, customers will see their phones get faster and that will get them excited,” he said, adding that at this point he believes customers will flock to 5G because the difference between 4G and 5G will be much more evident.  

“The current systems will see data consumption rise,” he said. “And in areas where that data consumption gets higher, the operators will support that through mmWave.”

McNamara went on to say that we may hear a lot about 5G deployments in the U.S., but it’s still a relatively new technology. “Lots of countries have not deployed it [5G] yet,” he said, noting that because of this many consumers haven’t experienced the benefits of 5G.   

Per McNamara, manufacturers of 5G radios are working to integrate multiple radios into one antenna. This could mean the difference of installing one antenna that supports multiple networks (LTE and 5G C-Band) versus having to fit multiple radios together. This would also lower the number of permits and approvals that carriers require to deploy their network. 

“This solves some of the operator pain points that are beyond just pure technology,” McNamara said.

The Dell ‘Oro Group also commented on this subject, noting that the 5G capex cycle will be longer than past generations of wireless. This includes LTE. According to the group, the reason 5G’s cycle will be longer is because of all the different spectrum bands that are being used for 5G from mmWave to 2.5 GHz, C-band, 6 GHz and more.

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What Are Verizon and Live Nation Doing to Improve the Way We View Live Events

Using Ultra Wideband 5G service as the foundation of its partnership, Verizon Wireless and Live Nation will help to evolve the way we experience live events. The companies will work along with artists to create content that allows the fans to be totally immersed in the event, whether it be live or virtual. 

To commemorate this partnership, Verizon Wireless has launched a new “First Access” ticket presale program, which is exclusive for Verizon Up members. Verizon Up is the company’s award-winning customer loyalty program. It is free to join, easy to use and available via the My Verizon app. For more details, visit Verizon Up.

It’s already been announced that “First Access” will be available for some upcoming live tours – this includes The Weeknd, Imagine Dragons, Dierks Bentley, Rosalía and more. The team will be announcing additional artist tours at a later date.

Verizon has been busy deploying 5G Ultra Wideband in Live Nation clubs, theaters, and amphitheaters across the country. Each iconic U.S. venue is outfitted with connectivity that is built to handle large scale events. This will allow concert-goers to stream, share photos and videos, and download content at speeds up to 10x faster than 4G.

For the virtual events, Verizon and Live Nation will provide exclusive access via Veeps, a streaming platform that is part of the +play, a new platform exclusive to Verizon customers. It will launch later this year.

“The partnership we’re announcing today is a continuation and deepening of Verizon’s long-standing relationship with Live Nation,” said Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO Verizon. “Predicated on technology and our massive consumer base, this partnership will elevate the ecosystem of music – how fans engage, how artists produce and perform, and how venues deliver enhanced in-person experiences and scale them digitally.”

“Verizon has always been a great partner and we’re excited to build something together by integrating their 5G technology into many of our venues,” said Michael Rapino, President and CEO of Live Nation. “With more connectivity than ever, we look forward to seeing what artists and fans create and share as they enjoy live shows together.”

What Can We Expect From 5G at Live Events

Around 380,000+ have already experienced some of what’s ahead at this year’s Super Bowl. In the future, these 5G-powered venues will have real-time innovations. This includes AR filters tied to Live Nation venues and events, integration of 5G multi-cam features for livestream shows, exclusive NFTs for Verizon customers redeemable for in-venue benefits, virtual venues with 5G-captured performances in a 3D world, and more.

“Using the power of Verizon 5G technology in sports and now music, we delivered an experience with an unparalleled level of access for the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, one of the most-watched events of the year,” said Diego Scotti, CMO, Verizon. “This partnership with Live Nation opens the door for artists to enhance fan engagement and participation, and shape the future of live events.”

Wondering where you might be able to experience 5G-enabled events? You can find them in several major cities including The Wiltern in Los Angeles; The Fillmore in Miami, and Silver Spring; the House of Blues in Anaheim, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and San Diego, and more. Verizon is also making a big change at the iconic Irving Plaza in New York City. It will be renamed Irving Plaza Powered by Verizon 5G. The newly renovated club will offer special access to Verizon Up members and provide an interactive experience for fans.

First Access

“First Access,” is the new presale ticket access for Verizon Up members. It gives special access to Live Nation tours before they are opened to the general public. The program kicked off in early March with a presale for The Weeknd “After Hours Til Dawn Tour.” 

Per Verizon Wireless, “First Access” will continue to provide access to millions of presale concert tickets for top Live Nation tours throughout 2022 and beyond. They promise to deliver access and special entry to some of the most anticipated shows now and in the coming years.

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