Verizon's new 5G at home will not offer next-generation speeds yet, but users will be able to take advantage of it

Verizon launches what it calls "the world's first commercial 5G broadband Internet service" later this fall, with customers in parts of Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento, eligible for launch date Oct. 1. However, there is a great caveat: technically, this is not a real 5G, and the first users will see speeds more or less similar to those of a good broadband connection.

According to a Verizon press release, the new service will cost $ 50 for existing Verizon Wireless customers "with an eligible smartphone package" and $ 70 for new customers, no tax or additional fees, annual contract or hardware. The company promises many benefits to users, such as free YouTube TV for three months, a free Apple TV or Chromecast Ultra device, and priority access to future mobile 5G services. Customers may want to pay attention to:

Verizon 5G Home customers should expect typical network speeds of approximately 300 Mbit / s and, depending on location, at peak speeds of nearly 1 Gbit / s, with no data limitations.

Thus, "about 300 Mbps", ie the advertised speed of a very good broadband connection (although service providers have the habit of exaggerating the actual speed of customers). It's slower than Verizon's higher line speeds, and not necessarily cheaper. That the top speed of nearly one Gbit / s is not a problem, although the advertised top speeds are at best optimistic. And while the press release contains a promise of "no capping data," Verizon has a long history of limiting eager data users.

As noted by CNET, Verizon beat its competitors in the pursuit using "non-standard technology in the industry," which means it's not a true 5G. Its real 5G network, which will have mobile access and not just a fixed location service, will not be deployed until next year. However, the company said in the press release that first-time adopters will benefit from "free updates to the router and router as soon as they become available in 2019."

All this to say that enrollment in this program is more or less voluntary to be a guinea pig. (Note that all test cities are relatively flat.) This certainly explains the red carpet approach, although potential customers should be wary of their registration for the moment to better service than other options in the same price range.