Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Internet service providers are a constant source of stress to consumers and, notoriously, one of the lowest-rated industries in the country. ISPs rank lower than social media, the US postal service and even airlines. It’s no secret why: Wading through the hidden fees, yearly price hikes, contracts, service details and different speeds can make for a very frustrating experience.Plus, considering how difficult it is to find a good internet provider at one’s address, we can often feel like we have hardly any options. Could 5G be the answer?The technology powering the latest phones is tackling our household broadband needs. The earliest 5G home internet plans — available from names like AT&T Internet Air, Starry, Verizon and T-Mobile — offer respectable speeds at straightforward prices. However, availability is limited to select cities and regions. CNET has reviewed all the major 5G services and we’ve got the details on how they work, how fast 5G gets, what it costs and where it’s available. Read on to see if a 5G connection may benefit you.So, what is 5G home internet? Simply put, 5G stands for the fifth generation. The fifth generation of what? The fifth generation of wireless data networks. You’re probably most familiar with hearing 5G used to describe better mobile communications and speedier phones. You’re not wrong: 5G networks, which use different radio frequencies than previous generations, aim to provide faster data speeds with much less lag or delay than we had with 4G. However, while 5G cellular service might be available on your phone, 5G home internet is not as widely available.My CNET colleague Eli Blumenthal does a great job of breaking down the basics of 5G. Millimeter-wave technology uses higher frequencies than previous generations, providing faster speeds and connections. Those higher, gigabit speeds come with a price: the data doesn’t travel the same distance as 4G and has more trouble with obstructions. To combat that, midband technology, which offers speeds averaging between 300 and 400 megabits per second, increases the coverage area provided by millimeter-wave. Finally, low-band 5G offers a range similar to 4G but speeds between 100 and 200Mbps. Is 5G home internet the same as 5GHz? Nope. One common mistake is to see the “5GHz” setting on your Wi-Fi router and assume you have access to 5G. Wi-Fi routers also use short-range radio frequencies (typically either 2.4GHz or 5GHz) to transmit your internet signal to connected devices within your home. 5GHz might be one of the band options for your home’s Wi-Fi system, but it’s not the same as 5G, which is a cellular technology that uses higher-frequency waves. Cable, DSL and fiber internet plans require wires connecting your home to the provider’s grid. Fixed wireless services, like 5G, connect your home to a provider’s network over the air. Taylor Martin/CNETHow is 5G home internet different?Most ISPs deliver internet service via phone lines or cables connecting your home to a more extensive network. That includes common internet connection types like digital subscriber lines or DSL, coaxial cable and fiber-optic internet. Those are all wired connections from your provider to your home. 5G home internet, on the other hand, is a fixed wireless internet service, which means that the connection between your provider and your home is not wired. With 5G, you will need an indoor or outdoor 5G receiver at your house to pick up the signal. It’s similar to satellite internet, but instead of beaming in a signal from satellites orbiting in the night sky, it’s relaying information from a much closer wireless hub. Although you’re using the same 5G network as your mobile phone, the gateway is specific to your location and cannot be used elsewhere.What providers offer 5G home internet?5G is still being deployed across the country. Therefore, the number of providers offering any 5G home internet plan is relatively limited. Your main options for 5G home internet are AT&T Internet Air, Starry, T-Mobile and Verizon. All prices listed on this page reflect available discounts for setting up paperless billing. If you decide not to go with automatic monthly payments, your monthly bill will be higher. Now, let’s explore what each offers. Price range $60 per monthSpeed range 75-225MbpsConnection Fixed WirelessKey Info Equipment included, no contracts, no overage fees AT&T Internet Air uses AT&T’s 5G wireless network and features download speeds between 75 and 225Mbps. It bypasses the need for a receiver and direct line of sight to a cell tower. The setup process is as simple as plugging in your Internet Air router, setting up the Wi-Fi network and figuring out the best location in your home.In addition, AT&T Internet features latency between 30 to 60ms, putting it in league with the likes of T-Mobile Home Internet, Starry and Verizon’s 5G Home Internet. The straightforward pricing (just one plan for $60 or $47 when bundled with an eligible AT&T wireless plan), terms of service and decent speeds make Internet Air a reliable option for many customers with access to it. The Internet Air router is included in your monthly cost; no professional installation is required. AT&T offers mesh Wi-Fi extenders for an additional $10 monthly for improved connection. There are no overage fees, data caps or contracts. Read our picks for the best Wi-Fi extenders available in the market right now. What AT&T Internet Air lacks, however, is the same availability as its competitors. Although it’s available across 48 states, many of those locations boast equal availability for AT&T’s fiber internet option, which outpaces fixed wireless in terms of fast, reliable speeds and cost per Mbps. Read our AT&T Internet Air review.
AT&T Internet Air plans and pricing PlanMonthly priceMax speedsFees and service details AT&T Internet Air Read full review $60 ($47 with an eligible AT&T wireless plan)75-225Mbps down, 10-30Mbps upNo equipment fees, overage fees or contracts Show more (0 item)
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Price range $30 – $80 per monthSpeed range 50 – 1,000MbpsConnection Fixed wirelessKey Info Unlimited data, no contracts, no equipment fees, simple setup Starry started in 2016 but does not lean into the 5G connection. It does not use 5G NR radio technology, which is a focus of mobile providers. Still, it does use millimeter-wave technology as a critical aspect of delivering fixed wireless home internet to customers. “We operate in 24GHz and 37GHz spectrum bands, and our network technology is the same across all our markets,” a Starry spokesperson said.The monthly price includes unlimited data, free equipment and installation and no contracts. It’s also the only 5G home internet provider listed here that features symmetrical or near-symmetrical download and upload speeds similar to those found with fiber internet service.Lastly, Starry also offers a “30-Day Happy Interneting Guarantee” with a full refund if you aren’t satisfied with the service and cancel within the first 30 days. Starry is focused on five markets: Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, DC. Read our Starry Internet review.
Starry Internet plans and pricing PlanMonthly priceMax speedsFees and service details Starry Connect Read full review $1530Mbps download, 30Mbps uploadNo equipment fees, data caps or contracts Starry 100 Read full review $30100Mbps download, 50Mbps uploadNo equipment fees, data caps or contracts Starry 200 Read full review $40200Mbps download, 50Mbps uploadNo equipment fees, data caps or contracts Starry 300 Read full review $45300Mbps download, 50Mbps uploadNo equipment fees, data caps or contracts Starry 500 Read full review $55500Mbps download, 250Mbps uploadNo equipment fees, data caps or contracts Starry 800 Read full review $70800 download, 250Mbps No equipment fees, data caps or contracts Starry 1 Gig Read full review $851,000Mbps download, 50Mbps uploadNo equipment fees, data caps or contracts Show more (2 items)
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Price range $60 per monthSpeed range 72 – 245MbpsConnection Fixed wirelessKey Info Unlimited data, equipment included, no contracts T-Mobile Home Internet features the lowest broadband speeds among our listed providers. That’s because it wavers between 4G LTE and 5G. It’s not exclusively 5G. T-Mobile “anticipates” that most customers will average between 72 and 245Mbps download speeds. When CNET first tested T-Mobile’s service in 2021, we hit a maximum of 132Mbps.T-Mobile offers three home internet plans with the same speeds. The main difference between them is the two pricier plans (Amplified and All-In) feature an upgraded Wi-Fi Gateway and advanced cyber security.T-Mobile’s service includes all setup fees and taxes and there’s no annual contract or data cap. Read our T-Mobile Home Internet review.
T-Mobile Home Internet plans and pricing PlanMonthly priceMax speedsFees and service details Rely Internet $50 ($35 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max customers)87-318Mbps download, 15-31Mbps uploadNo equipment fees, data caps or contractsAmplified Internet $60 ($45 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max customers)133-415Mbps download, 15-31Mbps uploadNo equipment fees, data caps or contractsAll-In Internet $70 ($55 for eligible Go5G Plus and Magenta Max customers)133-415Mbps download, 15-31Mbps uploadNo equipment fees, data caps or contracts Show more (0 item)
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Price range $50 – $70 per month (50% off for eligible 5G mobile customers)Speed range 85 – 1,000MbpsConnection Fixed wirelessKey Info Unlimited data, no contracts, free equipment, 50% discount for qualifying Verizon mobile customers Verizon’s 5G internet service, which uses Ultra Wideband 5G technology, boasts maximum download speeds of up to 1 gigabit and average speeds of around 300Mbps. Upload speeds are not symmetrical and will plateau at 50Mbps or less because Verizon does not exclusively use millimeter-wave technology, but rather a mix of low-band, mid-band and millimeter-wave.Verizon 5G Home Internet pricing is $50 a month for 50 to 300Mbps or $70 monthly for 85 to 1,000Mbps, plus some extra perks. Unlike most ISPs, you can expect a two to three-year price lock. Either way, it’s an all-in price that includes equipment, setup fees and taxes. Like all other Verizon plans, it requires no contracts or data caps.Verizon offers many promos and deals to sweeten the pot for potential customers. First, it provides an early termination fee credit offer to give qualifying customers a bill credit of up to $500 if they switch from their current ISP and are charged an early termination fee. Second, 5G Home Plus customers can have a free Netflix and Max subscription for a year. Lastly, customers with qualifying Verizon mobile plans will get a discount on the monthly cost of either plan, bringing them down to $35 or $45 monthly. Read our Verizon 5G Home Internet review.
Verizon 5G Home Internet plans and pricing PlanMonthly priceMax speedsFees and service details Verizon 5G Home Read full review $50 ($35 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans)300Mbps download, 20Mbps uploadUnlimited data, no contracts or equipment fees Verizon 5G Home Plus Read full review $70 ($45 with qualifying Verizon 5G mobile plans)1,000Mbps download, 75Mbps uploadUnlimited data, no contracts or equipment fees Show more (0 item)
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Where can I get 5G home internet?Let’s not sugarcoat this: 5G home internet service is not yet available everywhere. While the list of cities seems to expand nearly every month, most are larger US cities. T-Mobile Home Internet is the most widely available service among the three highlighted providers, with coverage of 60%, according to the FCC. While Verizon’s 5G home internet service is now available to 40 million homes, T-Mobile leapfrogged that by expanding its fixed wireless service to over 50 million households. Still, T-Mobile acknowledges it does not have unlimited availability across those locations due to network capacity. Verizon’s 5G Home Internet is currently offered in approximately 900 markets or 19% of the country. Although the total number of households in which it is available is less than T-Mobile’s, it does cover more cities.AT&T Internet Air is not quite as widely available as T-Mobile Home Internet or Verizon 5G Home Internet. The service is still slowly expanding but making decent progress, available to nearly 100 locations in 48 states and covers just over 9% of the country.Starry Internet is available in Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, DC and nearly 2% of the country, according to the FCC.Final thoughts: Is 5G home internet for you? The first thing to say is what we always say regarding ISPs: No matter how good the service, it’s all moot if it’s unavailable at your address. 5G technology is still being rolled out nationwide, so we should expect to see some bumps in the road as that effort continues. Still, 5G home internet availability is increasing at a pretty rapid pace. The affordable, straightforward pricing is vastly appealing and it’s what jumps off the page for me. Time will tell if that trend holds as availability continues to expand. It would be a real step forward if 5G could emerge as a viable broadband option for traditionally underserved parts of rural America. As CNET alum Rick Broida put it after he tested T-Mobile’s service, “Imperfection is a lot more tolerable when you’re paying less than half what you were before.” 5G home internet FAQs Is 5G home internet cheaper than other connection types? 5G home internet is one of the more affordable options available considering the decent download speeds that current plans average. T-Mobile averages just over 100Mbps, Starry chimes in at 200Mbps and Verizon’s median speed is 300Mbps. The lowest monthly cost among the three main providers is $15 (Starry’s low-cost option) and the highest is $70 (T-Mobile and Verizon 5G Home Internet Plus without the mobile discount). Each provider’s monthly costs include all fees, taxes, equipment and installation charges. So the monthly charge you see is the monthly charge you pay. Lastly, none require term contracts, so you won’t have to fear any early termination fees. Is 5G fast enough for home internet? In theory, 5G should enable a speedy connection that will match or improve what you get with cable or fiber internet. That’s usually not the case regarding the reality of 5G home internet. To increase the reliability and coverage of the 5G internet service, most providers rely on a mix of millimeter-wave, low-band and midband technology — as well as 4G LTE in some cases — and this means home internet customers won’t see the real high-end capabilities of 5G at present. You should see well over the average speeds of your typical DSL and satellite internet plans. What does the ‘G’ stand for in 5G? It simply means generation. In other words, 5G is the fifth generation of cellular technology. What’s the difference between 5G home internet and cable internet?
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