We’ve been hearing about 5G for the last couple of years. It’s supposed to completely change how we connect to the internet by enabling lightning-fast speeds not seen before.
5G promises speeds as much as 200x faster than 4G LTE. But it sure has taken a while to get here. Even though 5G exists and carriers are touting it, there hasn’t been a big speed revolution seen yet.
However, some of that “wait and see” is about to end as carriers like Verizon complete the infrastructure needed to provide a true 5G experience to customers. It’s calling this service “5G Ultra Wideband.”
How Does 5G and 5G Ultra Wideband Differ?
There is everyday 5G and higher octane 5G, which is what Ultra Wideband is designed to be.
The everyday 5G is available across the country and it uses a low band spectrum that is better than 4G LTE, but not a vast difference. It’s more like when we moved from 3G to 4G. It was great, but not revolutionary, which is what 5G was supposed to be.
5G Ultra Wideband represents a closer experience to what people were expecting when 5G was first promoted. According to Verizon, this service provides “game-changing” speeds up to 10x faster than what you are used to.
This type of 5G uses a high bandwidth, instead of low. This is known as mmWave. It also uses mid-band (C-band). It’s those bands on the spectrum that make the difference.
High Band, Mid Band, and Low Band 5G Explained
The bands are the wavelength that signals can travel. Most Wi-Fi routers will use the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands, for example.
5G is expected to bring lightning-fast speeds because it can use more bands. These bands have been opened up by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and are much less crowded than the current bands that 4G uses.
The higher the band, the faster the speed.
- 5G Low Band (600-700MHz): Covers hundreds of square miles, and speeds range from 30 to 250 megabits per second (Mbps).
- 5G Mid Band (2.5/3.5GHz). Covers a several-mile radius, and speeds range from 100 to 900Mbps.
- 5G High Band (millimeter wave/24-39GHz): Covers a one-mile or lower radius, and speeds range from 1-3Gbps speeds.
You’ll notice that the higher the band the less coverage area. While the low band covers hundreds of square miles, the much faster high band covers about one square mile.
This is one of the reasons that the superfast 5G has taken so long to materialize. Cellular providers need to install a lot more infrastructure to support it.
That’s why we’ve seen the low band 5G roll out much quicker and why it hasn’t been a huge jump in speed from 4G.
This is important to know because that’s why Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband is such a big deal. It’s using those mid and high bands that are so much faster than the low band.
Can I Get Verizon Ultra Wideband in New Jersey?
With Verizon rolling out the “good stuff,” meaning the faster 5G network nationwide, the next obvious question is, “Can you get it in New Jersey?”
The answer is, it depends where you live.
For cities like Fair Haven, and the surrounding areas, we’re good to go! Verizon’s coverage map shows that the 5G Ultra Wideband is available here.
However, not all of New Jersey is covered. If you live in another area, one inside the “pink” zone instead of the “red” zone, then you have the low band 5G, but will have to wait a little longer to see 5G Ultra Wideband availability.
You can use Verizon’s coverage map to input your city or zip code to see if it’s available in your area.
Two of the stadiums that offer this faster service in New Jersey are:
- MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
- Red Bull Arena (Harrison)
Overall Benefits of Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband
Speed of course is a big driver for getting the higher band 5G connection, but there are others. Here is a rundown of some of the biggest advantages of getting this service:
- 10X faster than 4G LTE speeds
- Fast enough to use as a hotspot, allowing you to bypass public Wi-Fi
- Won’t get overcrowded in populated areas, so you’ll keep a fast connection even if a lot of other people are using that same signal
- Not only for phones! 5G Ultra Wideband can be used for your main internet connection at home or work
- Very little lag time, enjoy HD video without the buffering
Learn More About Getting Fast 5G for Your Home/Work Wi-Fi
Two River Computer can answer all your 5G questions and help your Fair Haven home or business get set up with 5G cellular or Wi-Fi service.
Contact us today for a free consultation. Call 732-747-0020 or reach us online.
