While there will surely be a lot more to 5G than only faster download speeds for our smartphones but let’s face it—speed is what most internet users are interested in right now. Almost everyone wants to know if 5G technology is better and faster than the older 4G LTE Advanced generation, IT Support.
So, hold your horses as you will get all your answers to questions regarding 5G download speeds in this brief guide.
5G: Theoretical Speeds Overview
The theoretical maximum download speeds of 5G are impressively disruptive but there is a long way to go before you can expect to enjoy such kind of peak speed in the real world—regardless of the connected device.
As far as the range of download speeds is concerned, it depends on your 5G coverage. On average, you may get speeds from 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps. And the latency—total time the network takes to send data—could be as low as 1 millisecond. Here, take a look at the theoretical speeds of 5G technology compared to different mobile network generations of wireless technology:
| Mobile Network Generation | 2G | 3G | 3G (Advanced) | 4G | 4G LTE (Advanced) | 5G |
| Max Download Speed | 0.3 Mbps | 7.2 Mbps | 42 Mbps | 150 Mbps | 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps | 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps |
| Average Speeds | 0.1 Mbps | 1.5 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 10 Mbps | 15 Mbps to 50 Mbps | 50 Mbps and higher[AS2] |
How Fast Is 5G?
As you can see from the table above, 4G maximizes at 1 Gbps but 5G maximizes at 10 Gbps, meaning 5G is nearly 10x faster than the current 4G technology at its theoretical maximum download speed.
Plus, 5G promises to reduce latency. This means, 5G users are likely to experience improved load times and better responsiveness rate while gaming or streaming online.
With these expected speeds, 5G can easily beat current home cable broadband connections and stand close to fiber in terms of both reliability and speed. The latest mobile generation may also give serious competition to landline internet companies.
What Speeds are 5G Users Actually Getting[AS3] ?
Largely speaking, download speeds often vary depending on the type of 5G network you are connected to. The latest data from Opensignals shows that 5G download speeds from the top 3 U.S. operators—AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile—fall in the range of 47 Mbps to 58 Mbps. This means speeds in the real world are not even coming close to the minimum theoretical 5G downlink speeds.
There You Are!
You will be hearing a lot more about this latest mobile generation in the upcoming years, but the hype of 5G is already starting up. So, be ready to wait for a few more years to get widespread coverage and blazing-fast wireless internet speeds. And if you are looking for a high-speed internet connection and 5G is not available yet, sign up for Spectrum internet and enjoy up to 1,000 Mbps speeds at unbelievably economical price points. So, Good luck!