Verizon has officially announced their first 5G device and expounded on their 5G network which they say will continue to grow across the United States this year.
Verizon 5G Coverage
Verizon’s 5G mobile network, dubbed 5G Ultra Wideband, will be available in parts of Chicago and Minneapolis on April 11 of this year and they have 30 more cities that will get the technology soon. The official locations and dates haven’t been released, but Verizon says there will be an announcement in the coming months regarding that information.
Moto Mod 5G Device
The 5G device Verizon announced, the Moto Mod, is an add-on that Verizon customers will need to connect to the 5G mobile internet, and it’s only compatible with Motorola’s smartphone, the Motorola moto z3. Starting Thursday, March 14, Verizon customers can pre-order the Moto Mod as long as they have a Moto z3 on their account, or buy the z3 at the same time as the Moto Mod. For a limited time only, when you pre-order the 5G Moto Mod, you will get the moto z3 for free, which is a savings of $350.
Claiming they are the first company to debut 5G technology, Verizon’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) says in a press release they are excited about the future, “Continuing our track record of 5G ‘firsts,’ we are thrilled to bring the first 5G-upgradeable smartphone exclusively to Verizon customers,” said Verizon’s CTO, Kyle Malady. “Not all 5G networks are the same. Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network is built by the company with the nation’s best and most reliable 4G LTE network. It will change the way we live, work, learn and play…”
The General Manager and Vice President of Motorola North America, Rudi Kalil, says this 5G device is a long time coming and will create a better experience for their customers, “We’re very excited that the transformative 5G moto mod developed at our HQ in Chicago will soon be used by our own community, in addition to Minneapolis, to bring our bright 5G future to life.”
Let’s Talk Tip: Even if you buy the moto z3 you’ll only be able to connect to 5G in select cities. The first cities to get 5G will be Minneapolis and Chicago on April 11, 2019.
Right now it seems Verizon is beating all other carriers in the 5G race with these recent announcements. But is 5G really that impressive? The short answer is, yes. Considering that it only takes 1Mbps to browse the internet, Verizon’s 5G Home 950Mbps speed claim means their 5G network is nearly 1,000 times faster than what’s needed for that basic function. And although internet speeds for their 5G mobile Ultra Wideband haven’t been released, if it’s even a portion of their 5G Home top speed, it will be the fastest mobile internet in the country.
Verizon’s 5G coverage is available for home internet use in Sacramento, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Houston, TX; and Indianapolis, IN. Verizon reports customers with 5G Home can expect, “ultrafast,” internet speeds from 300Mbps-950Mbps, which is more than 10x the amount of speed it takes to stream a video. So yes, Verizon’s 5G is indeed, ultra fast.
