Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg used Apple’s stage to announce that Verizon has activated nationwide 5G.
Vestberg joined Apple CEO Tim Cook during the reveal of Apple’s first 5G iPhones to underscore the significance of the moment for both companies.
Apple and Verizon say they collaborated closely to optimize the iPhone experience on Verizon’s network.
“We were first in the world to 5G and we are continuing to drive 5G forward,” Vestberg said. “Our job, our passion, is to push the boundaries of what’s possible, to bring the ecosystem together and to create experiences consumers and enterprises never even knew they needed or wanted.”
“From the start, our focus has been on building a transformational 5G network that will drastically reshape society. Today’s announcement brings us one step closer to that future.”
Verizon has launched its ultra wideband 5G network in 55 cities, 43 stadiums, and seven airports. The newly announced “nationwide” 5G uses low-band spectrum, and Vestberg says it now covers more than 200 million people.
To date, Verizon’s emphasis on mmWave 5G—technology that delivers the fastest speeds but has limited range—meant competitors could claim broader 5G availability.
Rolling out mmWave has been challenging because it requires many small cell sites and often faces delays obtaining the necessary approvals.
Verizon’s nationwide 5G leverages its existing spectrum and infrastructure through dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) technology. DSS is also part of AT&T’s deployment strategy in some areas.
DSS will help Verizon rapidly close the coverage gap with T-Mobile and AT&T. However, like other carriers using DSS, this form of 5G will offer noticeable improvements over 4G but will not match the extreme speeds of mmWave deployments.
Verizon emphasizes that mmWave will deliver the best 5G experience. The carrier plans to expand mmWave coverage in high-traffic and high-profile locations such as sports stadiums, landmarks, and parks.
The company also plans to roughly double mmWave coverage in cities including New York and San Francisco and to roll it out in additional urban areas.
By the end of 2020, Verizon aims to launch 5G Ultra Wideband in more than 60 cities.
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