10 www.alliancecom.net Before we answer those important questions, let’s clear up a common misconception. The abbreviation 5G refers to the fifth generation of wireless technology for cellular networks, which was initially released in 2019. The “G” in 5G does NOT stand for gigabit and has nothing to do with internet speeds. (See the sidebar on page 11 for more details.) Fiber Internet Is More Available OK, now let’s get back to comparing these two internet technologies. A good place to start is by looking at their availability. Neither 5G home internet nor fiber internet services are available everywhere in this country. However, fiber has been around longer. According to the latest data from the Federal Communications Commission, approximately half of U.S. households have access to fiber internet connections. By contrast, 5G home internet service is still fairly new and is more limited. It’s important to note that fiber internet is increasingly available in rural areas thanks to local internet service providers and cooperatives that have built fiber networks—often with help from federal funding. The primary federal funding program currently available for fiber network builds is the “Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program,”which allocates $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access across the United States. Even if you get 5G on your smartphone at home, you may not be able to access 5G home internet for use on your connected devices such as laptops, tablets, TVs, smart home items, etc. This is because cellular providers prioritize their mobile phone customers, and only the extra capacity on their network can be sold to customers as 5G home internet. Why Is Fiber Internet Better Than 5G Home Internet? Fiber internet provides much higher speeds and reliability You may be hearing a lot these days about the 5G home internet offered by cellular providers. But what exactly is 5G? How does it differ from fiber internet? And which type of service will give you and your family the best online experience at home?
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTMzNDE=