Robert Triggs/Android Authority
Five years ago, on April 3, 2019, Verizon launched 5G networks in cities such as Chicago and Minneapolis. Fast forward to 2024, and the United States now has the largest number of cities in the world with 5G network access. According to 5G Americas, by the end of 2023, the number of 5G connections in the United States had increased by 64% year-on-year. It was reported that the total number of 5G connections in North America reached 197 million as of the end of last year, with telcos offering some of the fastest 5G plans in the world.
But five years later, what has 5G changed? Here’s an interesting statistic that shows you how mobile download speeds have changed over the past five years due to 5G connections and other network improvements.
In January 2019, T-Mobile and Verizon were tied as the fastest 4G providers in the United States, with download speeds of approximately 21 Mbps. As of February 2024, T-Mobile is the fastest provider in the United States, with average overall download speeds of 109 Mbps. Thanks to 5G, that number jumped more than 400%.
While 5G has shown great promise, and nearly all smartphones today are 5G phones, the technology is not without its challenges. Since deployment, users have experienced multiple issues.
4G network coverage is denser than 5G. Therefore, the network is not as free as LTE. This means people will often see their 5G connections fall back to 4G.
5G deployment is also an expensive technology, and these costs will be passed on to consumers. This is why 5G plans are inherently more expensive than 4G plans.
In addition, 5G connections also affect the battery life of the phone and consume more power than 4G LTE.
Today is the 5th anniversary of 5G: does it live up to your expectations?
19 votes
There are many other factors working against 5G, and there are factors working in its favor. We’re also looking forward to advanced deployments of 5G, which promise faster speeds, better energy efficiency and other benefits.
But looking at it today, five years after its launch, we want to know what you think of 5G. Have you noticed the considerable speed difference between 4G and 5G? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below.