As the two-year rollout of 5G cellular service continues, separate announcements from the big three phone carriers show that each is reaching at least 230 million Americans.
According to an AT&T and Frontier Communications announcement Wednesday (Oct. 6), the two have struck a network deal that will support deployment of AT&T’s 5G mobility network.
For its part, Verizon reported expansion of 5G to parts of five new cities, while T-Mobile said it now covers over 90% of Americans with 5G.
The rollouts are critical as the developments are set to drive further digital innovation because 5G networks offer a 10 to 20 times performance improvement over older networks, meaning information can be transmitted in speeds that approach real time.
Read more: Blazing 5G Network Connectivity Is Powering A Wave Of Telehealth Innovation
AT&T 5G Reaches 250 Million Americans
In a coverage map on its website, AT&T reports its 5G service reaches more than 14,000 cities and towns in the U.S. Barring some gaps where there is no coverage, the rest of the country continues to be covered by 4G LTE.
The company said in an announcement Sept. 8 that AT&T 5G reaches more than 250 million people nationwide and that 61% of its customers accessed 5G from their smartphones this year.
In addition to being within 5G coverage, use of AT&T 5G requires a compatible plan and device. That’s true of other carriers too.
Verizon Coverage Includes 230 Million Americans
Verizon reports that its 5G Nationwide low-band 5G network is now available in more than 2,700 cities across the U.S., and its coverage area includes more than 230 million people. Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network is available in parts of 70 cities.
Its coverage map shows the remainder covered by 4G LTE, 3G, international or no coverage.
Verizon said in an announcement Thursday (Oct. 7) that 5G Ultra Wideband mobility will be available later in the month in parts of Jacksonville, Florida.; El Paso, Texas; Dayton, Ohio; Scranton, Pennsylvania; and Tacoma, Washington. By then, it will be available in parts of 87 cities.
T-Mobile Offers 5G to 305 Million Americans
T-Mobile reports its 5G network now covers over 90% of Americans, and in just a few years, it will provide 5G to 99% of Americans. It also covers 92% of interstate miles.
More specifically, the company said in an announcement Sept. 28 that its Extended Range 5G network covers 305 million people, and its Ultra Capacity 5G network covers 165 million.
T-Mobile’s coverage map shows most of the U.S. covered by its 5G Extended Range, with other parts using 5G Ultra Capacity, 4G LTE or lacking coverage.
A Road to Innovations
AT&T noted that its 5G mobile technology is designed to surpass the speed of 4G, enhancing real-time video chats and multi-dimensional entertainment.
Verizon added that its 5G wireless technology paves the way for innovations.
Indeed, healthcare, for example, is being transformed by 5G connectivity. Trends such as telehealth, Internet of Things (IoT)-based medical devices and remote surgery that makes use of state-of-the-art imaging equipment are all due to this one breakthrough.
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