Tired of slow, expensive, or unreliable internet service? You probably are. Internet service providers (ISPs) come second to last in a study of customer satisfaction by sector of activity in the United States last year. For most people, Internet service comes to the home via cable and choices are limited. But with the deployment of fast, low-latency 5G networks by mobile operators, this is changing.
For some people, 5G home internet could be a viable alternative to traditional broadband. Carriers are starting to offer 5G home internet plans in a bid to recoup the costs of upgraded networks, which could finally mean real competition for ISPs. If you’re wondering what 5G home internet is, how it compares to broadband, and whether it could be for you, we’ve got all the answers you’re looking for.
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What does 5G mean?
5G is a global wireless standard and represents the fifth generation. Mobile carriers have been rolling out the fifth generation of cellular networks over the past few years. Compared to the previous generation (4G), 5G opens up unused radio frequencies at the high end of the spectrum. You can read our 5G guide to learn more, but simply put, 5G is faster, has lower latency, and can handle more connected devices.
What is 5G Home Internet?
5G home internet is an alternative to traditional broadband. Instead of running a cable through your home to connect to the Internet, you connect to the 5G cellular network wirelessly with a fixed receiver inside or outside your home. You’ll use a SIM card and have a service contract, just like you do with your phone. You will still need a modem and router to convert the incoming signal to Wi-Fi and broadcast it throughout your home.
What about 4G home internet?
Some carriers already offer 4G LTE home internet, and others offer a mix of 4G and 5G. Both work the same and require a receiver, but 5G allows for faster speeds and lower latency. Theoretical speeds exceed 10 Gbps with 1 millisecond of latency, but real-world performance around 1 Gbps is more common. One gigabit is enough for 5G to compete with broadband. 4G LTE typically maxes out at 100 Mbps but is often slower in the real world.
Is 5G home internet better than broadband?
The short answer is no. The longer answer is that it depends. If you have fiber optic cable running to your home, you can enjoy super-fast wired Internet, but if you use copper cable, your Internet speed will be limited. Proximity to an exchange and internet demand in your area will also impact the speeds you experience. Some people don’t have a cable connection, but remote areas generally don’t have good 5G coverage. If you have solid 5G coverage in your area but internet service is poor or expensive, 5G home internet might be a better choice.
What are the benefits of 5G home internet?
5G home internet has a few advantages over wired broadband, but there are three main ones:
- As no physical cables are required, installing 5G home internet tends to be much easier and you can probably set it up yourself without a visit from an engineer.
- If you have good 5G coverage in your area, you’ll likely be able to enjoy fast speeds, certainly much faster than older copper cables can offer.
- 5G home internet service may be cheaper than wired internet. Some carriers offer discounts and incentives for adding 5G home internet service to your existing mobile plan.
What are the disadvantages ?
There are pros and cons to everything. Here are some of the possible downsides of 5G home internet:
- Coverage is limited and will likely be better in cities. If you don’t have good 5G coverage in your area, 5G home internet is not for you.
- You’ll need a receiver with good line-of-sight into a cell site or 5G tower to get the best results. This may require attaching an antenna outside your home, as 5G signals don’t penetrate through walls very well and can be subject to interference.
- As 5G adoption grows and networks expand, you may find that your 5G home internet service is affected. When 5G networks become busier, your home internet connection may slow down or experience interruptions.
Can I benefit from 5G home internet?
It depends on where you live and the 5G coverage in your area. This nPerf coverage map lets you select by carrier to see coverage and download speeds. You can also check with your preferred carrier (most have coverage maps on their websites), but most only offer 5G home internet service in specific areas (major cities for now).
Who offers 5G home internet?
There are several options for people wanting 5G home internet service, but be sure to read the fine print. Most carriers offer a mix of 4G LTE and 5G. You’re likely to get the best deals from carriers where you get multiple services, so if you already have cellular service, your carrier will likely offer a discount on home internet. Here’s an alphabetical list of US options to get you started, but new services are rolling out all the time:
- AT&T InternetAir
- Starry Home Internet
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet
- Home cellular internet in the United States
- Verizon 5G Home Internet
If you’re in the UK, here are your options:
- EE 4G and 5G mobile broadband
- National 5G broadband
- Three 4G and 5G home broadband
- Vodafone 5G and 4G broadband
Is 5G home internet expensive?
Prices for 5G home internet aren’t much different from wired internet service. It may even be cheaper for some people. 5G home internet plans start at just $15 per month (Starry), but most cost between $30 and $80 per month, depending on the speed and service you want. Many carriers offer existing customer discounts and other incentives. Keen to attract new customers, many 5G home internet services offer unlimited data, with no fixed contracts and no equipment fees. Just make sure you understand all the terms before signing up.
