Congratulations, you have upgraded to a 5G smartphone. There are many reasons for upgrading, such as faster speeds or better reception. But the real question is – is your carrier plan ready for 5G? Even though 5G is poised to revolutionize the way we use smartphones, many people don’t know what this even means. Let us break down what you need to know about 5G coverage across carriers in the US.
Verizon
Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network promises download speeds of up to 4 gigabits per second. These 5G services are faster than the fastest 4G LTE networks, but they have different coverage areas. For example, Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband isn’t available everywhere; you’ll know if you’re living in a city where it is available if your phone says “5G UW” next to the signal bars when you’re on the network.
AT&T
AT&T’s history with 5G is a bit of a mixed bag. Earlier this decade, the telecom giant (as well as competitors Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile) advertised the faster LTE networks they were rolling out as “5G E,” which understandably led customers to believe that these networks were capable of delivering 5G speeds. AT&T stopped using the 5G E moniker in its advertising last year, but if you have an AT&T phone and see the 5G E logo on your screen when connected to an LTE network, know that you aren’t getting true 5G speeds—you’re still cruising on 4G.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile’s 5G network will be first to market, but its coverage still isn’t as robust as T-Mobile promises. If you’re a T-Mobile postpaid customer living in one of the places where 5G is currently offered, and you suffer from data slowdowns, switching to unlimited should help. Otherwise, there’s no need to do so—your current plan should be fine.
US Cellular
US Cellular 5G is a noticeable improvement from the 4G you’re used to, but it’s still only decent. Fortunately, if you’re on US Cellular, you have access to its 5G network—all plans (pre-and postpaid) include it. And if you’re in a rural area, US Cellular is more likely to offer 5G to you now since its coverage is concentrated around bigger cities. So if your area has US Cellular 5G coverage and your device supports 5G, you should be able to connect. You don’t have to switch carriers just because it offers 5G where you live.