Verizon is ready to begin revamping its 5G network to deliver ultra-high speeds to more subscribers in what could be a very big step forward for 5G growth in the US

, and Verizon announced that by the end of January, it will launch an improved version of its Verizon has announced that it will launch an improved version of its ultra-wideband network, augmented by the C-band spectrum it acquired in last year's auction. Until now, Verizon's ultrawideband coverage has relied solely on mmWave-based 5G. mmWave also has difficulty getting through physical barriers and picking up signals indoors.

As a result, Verizon's ultra-wideband was limited to parts of nearly 90 U.S. cities. Verizon will augment it with a slower, nationwide 5G network that reaches 230 million people. If Verizon adds C-band spectrum to the mix, ultra-wideband will be faster and reach more than 100 million people in 1,700 cities.

Its speed According to Verizon, the new Ultra Wideband can offer speeds up to 10 times faster than the LTE you're used to. This equates to download speeds of up to 1 Gbps in some areas.

When Verizon's new ultra-wideband network goes live, many existing 5G phones will soon enjoy faster speeds. This includes Samsung phones such as the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 3, and Galaxy Z Flip 3.

My experience with C-band certainly confirmed this when I tried out the test network Verizon set up in Los Angeles last month. When my LTE-based iPhone 11 Pro was producing speeds of 35 Mbps, in the limited time I used Verizon's test phone, speeds sometimes exceeded 1 Gbps.

In other instances, Verizon's 5G test network produced speeds ranging from 289 Mbps to 849 Mbps. Speeds vary from location to location, but should be clearly faster than what we are accustomed to with LTE.

And this may address one of the major complaints about 5G deployments to date. Early 5G implementations have relied heavily on 5G implementations in the sub-6 GHz band. It is also only marginally faster than LTE.

Ultra-wideband delivers peak speeds but is limited to certain locations, and with the C-band spectrum extending the reach of ultra-wideband, Verizon is betting that people will eventually understand the benefits of 5G. And if that is not easily understood, Verizon has posted a 5G Ultra Show on YouTube with various celebrities touting the benefits of faster 5G

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Verizon must also be hoping that the launch of C-band will enhance its 5G network ahead of what other U.S. carriers have done so far. In third-party testing, T-Mobile has been the highest rated so far, as it combines its own spectrum with that acquired in the merger with Sprint to produce the highest average 5G speeds over the widest range.

Verizon has not provided a specific date for when the revamped 5G service will launch. Rumors pointed to today (January 4) as a possible start date, but the day before that, Verizon and AT&T agreed to delay the launch at the request of U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. (21]

The FAA has expressed safety concerns that the C-band might interfere with some aircraft safety systems, and Verizon, AT&T, and the Federal Communications Commission have not supported this claim. Nevertheless, the January 3 agreement means that carriers will wait two weeks before beginning C-band expansion of their 5G networks.

This delay does not stop Verizon from revising its wireless phone and home Internet plans, which are scheduled to launch these new services on Wednesday, January 5. We are asking Verizon for additional details, including whether the current Verizon phone plan rates will be affected.

Verizon says it will offer two new plans for its 5G Home Internet service (5G Home and 5G Home Plus), but did not announce pricing and plan details. 5G Home Internet plans will include Verizon's Ultra Wideband for Cellular Customers who also have an unlimited data plan will receive a 50% discount.