Verizon to Launch Residential 5G in Up to 5 Markets Next Year Verizon says the company will launch fixed 5G ultra-fast wireless broadband service in somewhere between three to five markets in 2018. The company is already operating fixed 5G trials using millimeter waves in 11 different markets, with the company promising speeds up to 1 Gbps downstream. According to Verizon's latest announcement, the first commercial fixed 5G launch will occur in the second half of 2018, with Sacramento, California the first city slated to see the service. These initial deployments don't mesh with 3GPP's initial 5G pre-development standards, so will require notable updates as the full standard develops

The company has yet to provide any speed, usage cap, or pricing details on the service. “This is a landmark announcement for customers and investors who have been waiting for the 5G future to become a reality," Verizon says of the launch. "The targeted initial launches we are announcing today will provide a strong framework for accelerating 5G’s future deployment on the global standards." Of course the 5G standard itself hasn't been formally cemented yet. Most analysts don't expect that to happen until sometime in 2018 or 2019, with any meaningful deployment of mobile 5G services not occurring until 2020. With T-Mobile nipping at Verizon's heels in terms of network quality and coverage, Verizon is eager to use 5G as a way to differentiate itself again in the market, helping to justify what's traditionally been some of the higher prices in the industry. While these are commercial launches slated for next year, expect these markets to have a very beta feel to them as Verizon continues to test the technologies that will make up the 5G standard. Like AT&T, Verizon ultimately hopes to drive many of the customers on DSL lines Verizon refuses to upgrade to these new wireless offerings, so usage caps and pricing will be the million-dollar question as users wait to see whether 5G truly can be a fixed-line alternative. While these are commercial launches slated for next year, expect these markets to have a very beta feel to them as Verizon continues to test the technologies that will make up the 5G standard. Like AT&T, Verizon ultimately hopes to drive many of the customers on DSL lines Verizon refuses to upgrade to these new wireless offerings, so usage caps and pricing will be the million-dollar question as users wait to see whether 5G truly can be a fixed-line alternative.







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Most recommended from 36 comments



GvilleDSL

join:2009-11-12

Greenville, SC 6 recommendations GvilleDSL Member DSL will be gone in 2 years RIP. But honestly my only problems with fixed wireless are the caps and initial pricing. Perhaps that will change with future competition. sparek

join:2002-06-10

united state 5 recommendations sparek Member No in house installation The only way I see 5G on millimeter wavelengths working is if providers roll out fiber to the curb every where they want to offer this service.



The idea here being that service workers can roll fiber to the curb at their leisure (utility poles is commonly what I hear) and then all customers have to do is order the service, the provider sends them an antenna that they put at or near a window facing the curb, and then they have Internet service.



This cuts out the costly measure of having to roll out a truck every time someone wants service installation. They don't have to run copper, coax, or fiber to the customer's home. In theory, this would allow providers to dedicate more time to rolling out fiber to the curb.



Without fiber to the curb (or perhaps coax), I don't see how 5G and millimeter wavelengths can ever work. The radios will have to be so close to the customer that it will require a lot of backhaul to each radio.



I would suspect cable companies would be just as interested in this as telco companies. sims

join:2013-04-06 4 recommendations sims Member 30 million? I think they are underestimating. First off I want to mention every time I see one of these I search the list for anywhere in oklahoma and then curse because no large company ever builds internet services in oklahoma. Few years back I was so excited about WiMAX but it died out before it made it to oklahoma thank goodness LTE caught up although it still doesn't have the unlimited plans like WiMAX did.



On to the topic. Both satellite companies exede and hughes are putting up birds with several times their existing capacity they are losing customers right now but they think they will be able to steal ADSL customers with their new service offerings.



I think their right. 25/3Mbps with unlimited use (currently deprioritized after 150GB but should change after the birds are activated) compares pretty well to 6Mbps ADSL even with the high ping.

$150/mo is rather high but it's cheaper than moving which is often the alternative wouldn't be the most i've paid for internet a month either.



They are spending tons of money on the idea that people aren't going to be well served by wireline or wireless providers. I would think that should prod them into action but somehow I don't think they will notice until after their customers all run off. Course then they will just blame it on low demand instead of failure to upgrade and maintain their networks.