Verizon 5G: Everything you need to know

Verizon's 5G network has continued to grow and evolve since its introduction, starting with a very fast mmWave network before moving on to a slower but much more practical, low-band nationwide solution. The most significant evolution for Verizon's 5G network came with C-band in early 2022. 

C-band now makes up the most exciting portion of Verizon's network with rapid progress in deployment and a few small victories that have allowed the carrier to increase the amount of spectrum used earlier than planned. Grouped under the Ultra Wideband name first used for mmWave, Verizon has tests that show up to 1.4Gbps speeds on C-band with a 100MHz deployment.

As of March 2023, Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband covers 200 million people across the United States. If the carrier manages to keep pace, it should be able to provide some real competition for T-Mobile's mid-band network in the next few years.

Where does Verizon have 5G coverage?

If you have a phone that supports Verizon's nationwide 5G network and you live in a big city, there's a good chance you're covered. This network has coverage in over 2,700 cities, but since its speeds aren't much faster than LTE, most people aren't missing out on much. Compared to 5G coverage from T-Mobile, it's still lacking but is laying the groundwork for Verizon's long-term 5G ambitions. This nationwide 5G shares spectrum with the LTE network, with the tower allocating spectrum as needed based on demand.

Verizon's most significant progress in 5G has come from Ultra Wideband; luckily for most people, it's coming from C-band, not mmWave.

To see if you covered, check out Verizon's 5G coverage map.

Ultra Wideband 5G

C-Band spectrum refers to a chunk of sub-6 spectrum that first became partially available in late 2021, with the rest opening up over the following year. This 3.7GHz to 3.8GHz spectrum allows Verizon to deliver speeds similar to those on T-Mobile's Ultra Capacity 5G using a different chunk of mid-band spectrum.

Verizon initially had to launch C-band with 60MHz bandwidth while some industries that previously used the spectrum cleared the way. Verizon announced that it has started to deploy 100MHz C-band 5G in some areas thanks to deals with satellite providers, ahead of the planned December 2023 availability. This has allowed for speeds up to 1.4Gbps in Verizon's testing close to the towers, with 500Mbps possible further away.

In the coming years, Verizon will have access to 140MHz to 200MHz across the country as more spectrum becomes available. Verizon's C-band network is poised to become the backbone of its nationwide coverage, and the carrier is well on the way to making fast nationwide 5G a reality.

Verizon's mmWave network has also continued to improve, with the carrier consistently adding new cities. Services like 5G Home are helping people make use of all of mmWave's speed and have become a great alternative to cable internet. This spectrum is above 24GHz and offers huge open chunks so that it can support many simultaneous connections than LTE or even nationwide 5G can.

Verizon's 5G Home internet service is also available to many using the Ultra Wideband network to deliver unlimited fixed home internet. Using a modem mounted on or near a window, this network can deliver speeds near or exceeding what's offered by cable competitors, especially with uploads. And unlike many cable providers, it's completely unlimited. That means you can stream, game, and download without worrying about exceeding your limit. This can be great for streamers and cord-cutters that want the best quality video.

Verizon 5G Home has two plans available, with the first starting at $50 per month with autopay and the second starting at $70 per month. If you're a Verizon Wireless customer with a 5G Play More, 5G Do More, or 5G Get More plan, this price is cut in half. The service comes with unlimited data, and as much speed as the network can deliver, and you even get a free Wi-Fi 6 router included. The cheaper plan comes with a two-year price guarantee, while the more expensive option is guaranteed for three years.

Which devices should I get to be 5G ready?

For the best experience on Verizon's 5G network, you'll want a device with support for all of Verizon's 5G bands. These bands include n5 and n66 for nationwide 5G, n77 for C-band, and bands n260 and n261 for mmWave. While many of the best Android phones support nationwide 5G, if you want to make the most of the Verizon network, you want a phone with C-band support.

If you're looking to get some work done, Verizon has a couple of hotspots that can access its network. The Inseego MiFi X Pro 5G UW Hotspot supports all of Verizon's 5G network, so you can get as much speed as possible.

Which plan do I need for access?

All Verizon plans will have access to the nationwide 5G network for no extra cost. If you have a phone that supports the network, you will be able to access it without changing your plan or paying any extra. Still, opting for one of the best cell phone plans with plenty of premium data will help you get the most out of your 5G phone.

Currently, Ultra Wideband is included with Verizon's 5G Play More, 5G Do More, and 5G Get More Unlimited plans. The 5G Play More and 5G Do More plans come with 50GB of Premium data, while 5G Get More is unlimited. For most people, the most significant differences between the plan will be the streaming perks, including Disney Plus and Apple Music. It's also worth noting that the 5G Get More plan comes with 50GB of hotspot data compared to 25GB on the other two.

The 5G Start plan only has access to the nationwide 5G network, doesn't come with any premium data or hotspot data, and has no streaming perks. If you're looking for just the basics, this is a good place to start though you won't be making the most of the 5G network.

Is 5G worth it for most people?

If you've purchased a new phone in the last couple of years, there's a good chance it supports 5G. While many people would have been fine with the speeds offered by the best LTE networks, there was a limit to how much the network could support, and with usage increasing, the network needed to evolve to support more data. 

If you're happy with your non-5G device, 5G still isn't the reason to upgrade. There's a good chance you'll be able to get by completely fine on the older LTE network until you're ready to upgrade for another reason. If you are ready to upgrade, though, your next phone should really support 5G, especially as the best Android phones, including many of the best cheap Android phones, support 5G.