Verizon activates the world's first 5G network in four US cities



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Less than a year after announcing the launch of the first commercial 5G network in the US, Verizon has officially launched 5G services in four US cities: Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento. The company says it has begun offering Verizon 5G Home broadband services and has named Clayton Harris, a Houston resident, "the world's largest 5G customer."

In the United States, the launch of Verizon in 5G is admittedly significant, but it has several qualifiers. This includes whether it is really the first, the 5G and legitimately as widespread as it may seem at first. As we have already pointed out, smaller carriers have rushed to launch the "first 5G networks in the world" in Qatar, Lesotho, Finland and Estonia this summer, and ahead of the United States. Like Verizon, they typically use pre-standard 5G network equipment. and offering services in limited areas, sometimes without mainstream equipment.

Verizon's offering is an end-to-end 5G solution, including the wireless hardware needed to deliver next-generation wireless broadband speeds to home broadband users. The operator promises customers typical connection speeds of 300 Mbps and 1 Gbps using Inseego broadband equipment included in the monthly service price of $ 50 to $ 70. It also includes three months of free TV on YouTube, as well as the customer's choice to use a free Apple TV 4K or Google Chromecast Ultra.

Above: Inseego 5G Home Router for Verizon.

Image Credit: Verizon

If competitive pricing is not attractive enough, Verizon offers its service for free for the first three months and promises "First on 5G" customers fast access to upcoming services, such as the 5G mobile. Rival AT & T is launching this year a 5G mobile service in 12 cities, using "pucks" of wireless access points to provide mobility, rather than new 5G smartphones or tablets.

Verizon's main concern is that it is only launching 5G in "part of" its original four cities and is using "5G TF" equipment that will need to be updated to 3GPP compliant 5G. According to the personal experience gained with the FIOS versions, Verizon could take years to expand its broadband services, as promised, or not to cover an entire city. We also do not know when or how 5G mobile devices such as smartphones will work on the Verizon 5G network.

The carrier said it had chosen Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento for early 5G service, because of its forward-thinking leaders and local leaders from these regions. It seems that waiting for a 3GPP compliant 5G hardware to be available to extend its 5G offers to other cities.

"Our 5G technology partners are currently marketing 3GPP 5G NR hardware, software, chipsets and devices," the company says. "We will upgrade First On 5G members to this equipment. When new network equipment is available and introduced, we will quickly expand our 5G Broadband Internet coverage area and expand 5G to other cities. "

Customers interested in Verizon 5G Home service can check if the service is available in their neighborhood via the company's FirstOn5G.com website. The company began accepting pre-order requests for service on September 13th.

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