mmWave 5G speeds across five cities in the United States 2021

Verizon achieved the highest average download speed on 5G operating a millimetre wave (mmWave) service in the United States, reaching 607.2 megabits per second (Mbps). MmWave 5G, also known as 5G Ultra Wideband and 5G Plus, is much faster than 5G data transfers at other spectrum regions, but this comes at the expense of range.

Providers investing in 5G

To realise the potential of 5G, wireless providers are making huge investments in to 5G technology and infrastructure. Of the total 48 billion U.S. dollars in capital expenditure (CAPEX) expected in 2025, 47 billion U.S dollars is likely to be spent on 5G related items. 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.

Economic benefits of 5G

While the outlay is significant, countries that manage the 5G rollout and successfully are poised to receive significant returns. In the United States, the use of 5G is expected to add 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars to GDP from 2021 to 2025. By improving productivity and opening new use cases, the proper utilisation of 5G could lead to the creation of around 16 million new jobs from 2021 to 2025, with tens of thousands of job opportunities in every state.