Mobile Technology

Verizon to introduce 5G connectivity in US test markets by mid-2017

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Verizon announced plans to test its new 5G network in 11 metropolitan and suburban areas by mid-year
The cities Verizon is using for its test rollout
Verizon announced plans to test its new 5G network in 11 metropolitan and suburban areas by mid-year

Verizon appears to be making good on its promises of building the first 5G cellular network in the United States. Today, the carrier announced it will roll out 5G connectivity to pilot customers in 11 US markets by midyear.

According to Verizon and its industry partners in the 5G Technology Forum (5GTF) 5G broadband systems are expected to deliver internet connectivity speeds at a cost-competitive level previously only available via fiber connections.

Verizon has said its newly built network has been tested at the prototype level and is now ready for widespread testing in various real-world metropolitan and suburban environments. It confirmed upcoming 5G test markets in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Barnardsville (NJ), Brockton (MA), Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami, Sacramento, Seattle and Washington DC.

Verizon's announcement comes shortly after AT&T described its plans for "5G evolution" testing in Austin and Indianapolis.

The cities Verizon is using for its test rollout

In either case, this 5G rollout is precommercial, meaning it won't be something that consumers can opt into until the network goes live. Additionally, speed testing requires 5G-compatible devices, which have yet to come to the market. But according to Verizon, its 5GTF partners (Ericsson, Intel, Qualcomm and Samsung) are close to commercializing the necessary infrastructure and chipsets necessary to bring 5G compatibility to consumers.

Learn more about Verizon's strategy for rolling out its next-generation network in the video below.

Source: Verizon

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3 comments
LarryWolf
What good is 5G if even 4G or 3G doesn't reach into most buildings. I go into a doctors office and always cut off from the world. Dumb.
JohnHoward
Now if they can only improve on their customer services too !
RobertTaylor
G has no technical meaning at all, it stands for generation. When the 4G standard was developed there was no 4G equipment available so they called it 4GLTE LTE stands for long term evolution which means that in a long time they may get up to 4G. This is pure marketing hype! Give me a baud rate! or megahertz or gigahertz or something that means something.