Choosing the best 5G home internet provider can be a complex decision and depends on many important factors.
cover area
One of the first things you should decide before diving deep into the 5G market is whether you’re within the coverage area of any 5G home internet provider you might be considering. Some ISP companies’ 5G infrastructure is relatively widely available across the country, while other ISP companies’ networks are only just reaching smaller cities and towns.
While Verizon is known to have one of the most extensive mobile networks in the US, T-Mobile currently has the largest and most widespread 5G infrastructure in the country, with 5G home Perfect for internet users. Starry Internet uses larger and faster 5G bands, so it’s only available in select cities (but where Starry Internet is present, it’s one of the best options for 5G home internet) .
costs and discounts
As with any technology (especially newer ones), cost remains a key factor when choosing a 5G home internet provider.So how much does 5G home internet cost? T-Mobile offers flat rates $50/month It offers supposedly “unlimited” 5G download speeds with no data caps. In fact, its speeds are closer to 3,000 Mbps (which is still super fast at a very low price). Verizon’s standard internet plan also $50/monthHowever, the maximum is around 300 Mbps, while the Plus plan gives you speeds of up to 940 Mbps. $70 per month price.
Existing Verizon wireless cell phone customers will receive a 50% discount on their plans. Starry Internet is one of the cheapest options for users looking for faster data speeds, especially those associated with mmWave 5G (see the differences below). Starry currently only advertises speeds up to 200 Mbps between: $30 and $50 per month.Expect to pay fees for high-speed “Gigabit” plans $80 per month.
Contracts, equipment and fees
All three of our 5G home internet companies offer contact with no annual requirements, hidden fees or markups. This makes it easier to trust your 5G home internet company as you can start or stop the service at any time.
Unlike some 5G home internet services that use tethered computers and other devices connected to cellular networks, fixed 5G companies like Verizon, T-Mobile, and Starry all offer more connections and faster speeds. We provide a dedicated modem/router that can handle this. All three companies manufacture devices, but Verizon and T-Mobile currently offer professional installation at no additional charge.
Sub-6 vs mmWave 5G
Depending on the service area or the ISP company you choose, 5G home internet providers use two different types of 5G technology. Sub-6 5G requires only minor upgrades to existing cell towers, whereas mmWave 5G (or mmWave) required major infrastructure changes. Therefore, it was quickly adopted by providers such as T-Mobile and Verizon.
Sub-6 5G refers to the area of the radio spectrum used for the network. Sub-6 uses frequencies below 6GHz (gigahertz). Note: 3G, 4G, and 5G all refer to “generations” of data networks and do not refer to the GHz frequencies used as part of the transmission. Sub-6 5G is definitely faster than 4G and 3G networks because it literally uses radio waves that travel faster, but it’s only a small improvement, primarily an increase in data speeds in semi-urban areas.
Additionally, mmWave 5G refers to data networks that broadcast on frequencies between 30 and 300 GHz. These are called millimeter waves. This is because the low gigahertz waves used in Sub-6 5G are centimeters long, whereas radio waves are literally 1 to 10 millimeters long. The important point here is that millimeter waves are smaller and have shorter ranges, but overall they are faster. This means your data connection will be faster, but the transmitting tower will need to be closer to your home. Because adding new transmission towers to the infrastructure takes time, mmWave 5G is currently only available in densely populated urban areas where demand is high and 5G transmitters can be added to high-rise buildings.
Starry Internet uses only mmWave 5G, so it offers the best home internet speeds, but it’s only available in select cities. Verizon offers both mmWave and Sub-6 5G depending on location, while T-Mobile currently only offers Sub-6 5G.
Download speed and upload speed
The type of 5G each ISP company uses will tell you what speeds you can expect. We know that mmWave 5G delivers faster internet compared to slower Sub-6 speeds. Additionally, each company advertises and offers different download and upload speeds, which may differ from the theoretical limits and capabilities of each technology. The basic 5G home internet plans from the three companies we introduced all offer download speeds of around 200 or 300 Mbps. For most customers, this is enough to cover streaming HD content and other web browsing. For gamers, or those who download or upload large amounts of data, 300 Mbps is the lower limit. If high download and/or upload speeds are important to you, be sure to check what speeds the companies you’re considering offer.
