Most consumers and businesses utilize a wired connection for their primary means of accessing the web. That’s typically provided by a handful of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as Comcast, Century Link, or AT&T.
Historically, ISPs have utilized three types of wired internet distribution methods: DSL, cable, and fiber. Each employs different technology infrastructures that achieve varied communication speeds.
However, the recent development of 5G infrastructure, driven by cellular companies, adds a fourth distribution method to the mix. 5G home internet could transform how we access the web, replacing our current ISP while providing faster-than-ever speed and revolutionizing in-home IoT products.
What Is 5G?
Like its preceding technologies — 3G and 4G — 5G is the fifth-generation broadband technology standard for cellular networks. Since 2019, 5G has been deployed incrementally by global cellular network companies. Consumers are now benefiting through the release of 5G-compatible cell phones such as the iPhone 13, Google Pixel 6, and the Samsung Galaxy S22.
Most commercial 5G cellular networks utilize 3.3 - 3.8 GHz frequencies, but some cellular providers can utilize the mmWave spectrum band up to 39Ghz. The highest frequency band used in 4G LTE was 2.5 GHz, meaning 5G is currently 15 times faster than the fastest form of 4G LTE.
For further analysis of 4G versus 5G technology, check out our in-depth comparison article. And given the bandwidth and frequencies of 5G technology, many more devices can be simultaneously connected to these bands without reducing speeds.
This breakthrough allows thousands of devices to maintain service even when simultaneously connected. That's excellent news for anybody who has been frustrated when trying to use their phone in a crowded stadium with thousands of other people.
In early 2022, we used the Verizon 5G UW network to test personal internet speed while at a sporting event with over 5,000 people. Shockingly, this network provided a wireless download speed of 1300Mbps, which is faster than the maximum speed available at a home office using a fiber optic cable.
It's easy to see why a 5G for home internet could be preferable to a traditional DSL, cable, or fiber connection.
Read our article What is 5G? to learn more.
What Is 5G Home Internet?
5G home internet utilizes 5G cellular networks to provide internet to your entire home and all its devices. Unlike traditional wired internet connections, 5G home ISPs utilize an in-home 5G receiver that wirelessly connects to the nearest 5G cellular tower. That means 5G receivers only require power (no wired internet connection) and can be placed anywhere in a home that receives the necessary cellular signal.
These 5G receivers then convert their 5G internet signal into a WiFi signal, much like a wired internet modem/router, for all WiFi-enabled devices to connect.
Interestingly, the connection speeds possible with high-frequency 5G bands may eventually overshadow the maximum speeds capable of even the fastest WiFi signal. 5G-enabled devices may offer an alternative to WiFi connections, given their speed and latency advantages.
The Future of 5G at Home
The blistering speeds, receiver portability and multi-device support advantages of 5G home internet may soon prompt wired ISP users to jump towards new 5G tech. While 5G internet is limited to regions where the infrastructure supports it, as 5G becomes even more widely adopted, we may see wired internet connections become obsolete.