Petroc Taylor
Research expert covering global developments in the use of data
5G in the United States - Statistics & Facts
The United States has cemented itself as a global leader in the rollout and adoption of fifth generation (5G) mobile technology. 5G is the most advanced iteration of mobile technology currently in use and brings a host of improvements over existing 4G technology. The superior download speeds offered by 5G have garnered the most attention, enabling the lightning-fast streaming of 4K content and the seamless provision of home broadband services via fixed wireless access (FWA). Beyond this, the low latency and increased bandwidth offered by 5G are enabling U.S. businesses to embrace the exciting possibilities offered by artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) via the real time transfer of mobile data.
Most new home broadband subscribers choose 5G over fixed-line
U.S. 5G adoption progressed rapidly in 2022. Almost 45 percent of all U.S. mobile connections used the technology that year, up from just 15 percent in 2021. By 2030, it is projected that more than nine in ten of connections will be 5G, putting the U.S. on par with Canada and South Korea, and ahead of Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Meanwhile, there has been significant interest in the use of 5G for home broadband services. Through fixed wireless access (FWA), various U.S. network providers can offer packages which enable consumers to receive a fast, stable home broadband connection via a 5G router. The vast majority of new home broadband subscriptions in 2022 used 5G, with consumers deciding against fiber or other fixed line connections such as DSL.T-Mobile US leads in both 5G speed and coverage
The United States’ early adoption of 5G has seen it achieve considerable network coverage, having ranked fourth in a 2023 global survey of 5G availability. Average 5G speeds, meanwhile, continue to climb steadily in both urban and rural areas. However, an individual’s user experience can depend largely on network choice, with 5G network quality continuing to prove a key battleground for telecoms operators. T-Mobile dominated in both key metrics in 2023, with faster average download speeds and broader coverage than that of rival providers AT&T and Verizon. Indeed, T-Mobile has placed 5G at the heart of its business strategy. While both AT&T and Verizon remain larger in both revenue and subscribers, T-Mobile has sought to attract new customers on the superior quality of its network and has made significant investment to support this, including the purchasing of spectrum licenses via Federal Communications Commission (FCA) auctions.
