AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile 5G license purchases in the United States 2018-2022

Verizon Wireless made their single largest investment in 5G spectrum at Auction 107, as revealed on the 24th of February 2021. Verizon purchased 3,511 licenses at the 3.7GHz auction, for 45.45 billion U.S. dollars.

Significant investments in 5G

The 5G rollout involves serious investment from telecommunications providers. Of the 48 billion U.S. dollars in capital expenditure (CAPEX) expected in 2025, 47 billion U.S dollars is likely to be spent on 5G infrastructure and services, with similar levels in each year prior. The three main wireless operators in the United States – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – have already spent or made commitments amounting to more than 83 billion U.S. dollars in acquiring 5G licenses.

Speeds to vary greatly by region and operator

While many customers have come to expect some degree of consistency in the user experience of 4G in metropolitan areas, the early stages of 5G adoption could offer vastly different experiences. In a recent test conducted in five major cities, 5G average download speeds ranged from 41.9 megabits per second (Mbps) using Verizon in New York, to 83.8 Mbps using T-Mobile in Washington.

The speed of 5G at the millimetre wave (mmWave) range will experience much faster speeds, with Verizon achieving an average download rate of 437.5 Mbps. While mmWave offers rapid speeds, mobility is limited, with the frequency having a similar range to that of WiFi.