It's here! Commercial 5G arrives in the US with the launch of Verizon's fixed wireless service, which is initially based on in-house tech specs.

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

October 1, 2018

1 Min Read
Verizon's Home-Grown 5G Arrives Today

Verizon will launch its home-brewed fixed-wireless 5G service in four markets in the US Monday.

The service, called Verizon 5G Home, will launch in "limited areas" of Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento on October 1. Verizon is promising "typical speeds" of 300 Mbit/s, and peaks of 940 Mbit/s, for its wireless broadband service, which will compete with cable broadband offers. (See Verizon to Launch Fixed 5G Service on Oct. 1.)

The price will be $50 a month for existing Verizon Wireless subscribers, or $70 a month for new users.

Verizon is currently using its own 5GTF 5G specification for the fixed service. A software update will allow the operator to move to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) 5G New Radio mobile standard early in 2019. (See Verizon Confirms Mobile 5G in 'Early' 2019 and Verizon Migrating From Homebrew 5G, Enlists Qualcomm for Trials.)

Light Reading first reported that Verizon would use spectrum in the 28GHz band to deliver 5G residential broadband back in 2015. (See 5G: Verizon's New Home Invasion?)

The 5G connection is intended to deliver a fast wireless broadband connection, as well as supporting multiple connections in the home, via millimeter wave. Verizon intends to launch the service in these four markets this year, and up to 50 additional markets in 2019. (See Verizon Reveals Third 5G City, as Revenue Climbs 5.4% in Q2.)

Verizon rival AT&T says it will launch a mobile 5G service in parts of 12 markets before the end of 2018. (See 5G in the USA: A Post-MWCA Update.)

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

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