Let’s take a quick look at the cell phone coverage area. Did you notice that there is a new icon in the signal area? That’s his 5G signal, replacing the old LTE. Nowadays, it doesn’t matter if you have the latest smartphone or an affordable version of Android. You’re probably in the 5G club.
This has been made possible by the 5G networks that the US telecom giant has rolled out in recent years. However, there are notable differences in the experiences provided by different 5G networks. The following discussion details the differences between 5G Plus, 5G UW, and 5G UC.
Understand the spectrum of 5G technology
Before we explain the differences between 5G UW, 5G UC, and 5G Plus, let’s take a step back and talk about 5G bands. 5G offers a faster experience, but it doesn’t guarantee a stable connection. Your experience may vary depending on which band you access.
5G devices sit on top of that, seamlessly switching between bands to make the connection as stable as possible. This flexibility sets 5G apart from previous mobile phone technologies. The table below provides a detailed breakdown of the various 5G bands.
|
spectral band |
range |
coverage radius |
speed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
low band |
< 1GHz |
>100Km |
30Mbps～250Mbps |
|
mid band |
1GHz to 6GHz |
From 1Km to 100Km |
100Mbps～900Mbps |
|
high band |
Millimeter wave (26/28GHz) |
< 1Km |
1Gbps～2Gbps |
Advantages and disadvantages of mmWave technology
True 5G performance is best represented by high-band 5G, or mmWave technology. Get download speeds up to 10x faster than 4G LTE. This leap requires new cell tower technology. It shines in dense and crowded areas of cities such as airports and shopping centers. Its limitations are manifested through its limited range and interference sensitivity.
Outside of urban areas, there are no signals, so devices must continually search for signals. This constant search has a negative impact on battery life. Compared to 4G LTE and other he 5G connections, battery performance will be reduced.
Extensive low-band 5G coverage at reasonable speeds
Low-band 5G slightly outperforms 4G LTE, offering up to 20% faster speeds, but in some cases the difference is negligible.
The advantage of low-band 5G is that it seamlessly integrates with current 4G LTE infrastructure, ensuring faster deployment and broader access.
The energy sector has adopted low-band 5G to communicate with remote locations such as oil fields, mines, and wind farms. The agriculture industry is also leveraging low-band 5G for remote monitoring of crops with smart sensors in farm management.
Balance speed and coverage with mid-band 5G
Mid-band 5G, also known as C-band, is the latest version of the 5G family and offers a balance between speed and reach. Mid-band 5G offers speeds approximately six times faster than LTE.
It exceeds low-band performance and provides wider reach and more stable availability than its high-band counterpart. This makes mid-band 5G an ideal choice for many applications, such as serving the interconnected frameworks of business parks, university campuses, and smart cities, by providing stable service to IoT devices. It becomes.
Decoding carrier branded 5G services
As if calling three separate network technologies “5G” wasn’t confusing enough, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon each use their own terminology to describe their 5G networks. These terms relate to high, medium, or low band frequencies.
Access to each company’s 5G network will vary based on factors such as location, device model, and mobile plan. You can identify which 5G service he is using from the icon on the phone’s screen. However, run a speed check to determine your 5G connection type. High band 5G is rare. If you see a 5G+, 5G UC, or 5G UW icon, it indicates a connection to a widely available mid-band network.
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T-Mobile’s 5G UC and Extended Range Services
T-Mobile will divide its 5G network into: 5G Ultra Capacity (5G UC) fast access and 5G extended range Cover a wider area. 5G UC combines the best high-band frequencies with 2.5GHz mid-band frequencies to deliver high-speed connectivity, as indicated by the 5G UC badge on your mobile screen.
If you only see 5G on your device, you’re using an extended range service that operates on a slower, lower-band spectrum with speeds similar to 4G LTE.
Source: T-Mobile
Verizon’s 5G UW and Nationwide Service
acronym wisconsin UW in 5G is ultra wideband, the term Verizon uses to describe its combined high-band and mid-band 5G network service. Initially, Verizon’s 5G was limited to high-band frequencies. To overcome coverage limitations, mid-band 5G was adopted and classified under the ultra-wideband label.
If you see the UW icon on your mobile screen, it means you are connected to a mid-band network. On high-band networks, the difference in speed is greater. A simple 5G icon indicates Verizon’s nationwide 5G service, which uses low-band frequencies.
Source: Verizon
AT&T’s 5G+ and Evolution Services
to mobile phone 5G+ The symbols have access to AT&T’s premium network segments (either high-band or mid-band spectrum). AT&T has focused its high-band deployment primarily on venues such as stadiums and airports, with little deployment in typical urban or suburban environments.
controversial 5GE Label, formerly sold by AT&T Evolution of 5G, refers to an optimized version of the 4G LTE service. Because of consumer confusion, America’s National Advertising Review Board (NARB) urged AT&T to phase out the term from its promotional content. However, a 5GE indicator may appear in the signal area. A standard 5G marker without a plus sign refers to a low-band 5G network that offers speeds slightly above LTE.
5G’s transformative potential
This opens up unprecedented opportunities for real-time monitoring, analysis, and control on a global scale. 5G can support up to 1 million devices per square kilometer, allowing the industry to scale to previously unattainable levels.
5G not only allows you to download 4K movies to your 5G smartphone in seconds (even from busy airports), but also ensures lag-free communication and instant data transmission. If your 5G connection isn’t working properly, try switching between 5G and LTE to stabilize your connection.
