Verizon has announced an expansion of its 5G Ultra-Wideband (UWB) network, increasing the number of homes and mobile devices that can access the carrier’s fastest 5G services.
“We create the networks that move the world forward, and our 5G network brings incredible capabilities that will drive us all as we move into the new year,” said Ronan Dunne, CEO of Verizon Consumer Group. “We’re committed to providing our customers with access to the newest technologies and experiences that will shape our future.”
Later this month, customers in parts of Colorado Springs, CO; Columbia, SC; and Knoxville, TN will gain access to Verizon’s 5G UWB network. The operator is also expanding its fixed 5G Home Internet service to portions of several additional markets.
Starting January 14, Verizon’s 5G Home Internet will become available in parts of Arlington, TX; Miami, FL; Anaheim, CA; San Francisco, CA; and St. Louis, MO. Phoenix, AZ will be added on January 28. These rollouts broaden availability for consumers seeking an alternative to traditional wired home broadband.
Verizon reports its Nationwide 5G service now reaches approximately 230 million people across 2,700 U.S. cities. The company says it continues to grow its fastest Ultra-Wideband coverage, which delivers lower latency and higher peak speeds compared with Nationwide 5G.
Kyle Malady, Verizon’s Chief Technology Officer, summarized the company’s progress and continued plans:
“We ended 2020 with 2,700 cities with Nationwide 5G service serving 230 million people, 61 cities with Ultra-Wideband service, and 12 cities with access to our 5G Home service; and we’re not slowing down. We’re rolling out new services to more customers continuing the digital transformation Verizon has been driving.”
To encourage adoption of 5G Home, Verizon is offering new subscribers 12 months of the Discovery+ streaming service. The carrier promotes Discovery+ as a broad entertainment option with programming aimed at food enthusiasts, nature viewers, DIY fans, and other niche audiences.
In addition to the streaming trial, new 5G Home customers receive a complimentary smart home starter bundle that includes Amazon devices: an Echo Show 5, Ring Stick Up Cam, Echo Dot, and an Amazon Smart Plug. These devices are intended to showcase smart-home functionality that can be supported by Verizon’s home internet service.
Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg is scheduled to deliver the opening keynote at this year’s virtual CES on January 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET, where the company may share further details about its network strategy and new services.
Industry events and discussions
For readers interested in broader industry conversations around 5G and related technologies, a number of co-located trade events bring together leaders and vendors across adjacent fields. Events such as the 5G Expo, IoT Tech Expo, Blockchain Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo gather presenters and attendees to explore advances in connectivity, internet-of-things deployments, distributed ledgers, artificial intelligence, and cloud security. These shows tend to take place in major tech hubs and offer panels, demonstrations, and networking geared toward enterprises, developers, and technology buyers.
Verizon’s continued network expansions, bundled promotions, and visibility at major industry conferences reflect the company’s efforts to accelerate adoption of premium 5G services for both mobile and home internet customers. As availability grows, consumers will see more options for high-speed wireless access, alongside bundled content and smart-home trial offers designed to highlight the capabilities of faster, lower-latency networks.