Verizon’s new 5G plans will radically expand the availability of the company’s fast “ultra wideband” network, but at the cost of unlimited high-speed hotspot use.
The carrier confirmed to PCMag that later this month, hotspot data allowances will start to apply to subscribers on the carrier’s fastest 5G network. This change will apply both to people on existing plans and those on the carrier’s new plans, the carrier said.
Until now, people with plans that include Verizon’s millimeter-wave 5G network had unlimited high-speed hotspot on millimeter-wave 5G, but limited high-speed hotspot on “nationwide” 5G and 4G. That’s because of the massive capacity on the millimeter-wave network, where phones can use up to 800MHz of spectrum at once. That network just has more airwaves than anyone can use up right now.
As C-Band only includes 60MHz for the moment, but will be branded “UWB” the same as millimeter-wave, it looks like Verizon is implementing some usage limits. The new 5G plans include 50GB of high-speed hotspot per month.
People who have been using their Verizon phones for primary home internet access may have another option coming, though, as the C-Band launch will include expanding availability of Verizon’s dedicated wireless home internet service. That system has no data caps.
Verizon and AT&T’s new C-Band networks, launching Jan. 19, have been delayed for six weeks because of conflicts with the FAA, which got worked out earlier this week. C-Band is only one of several bands used for 5G; neither the carriers’ low-band 5G networks, T-Mobile’s mid-band, or millimeter-wave have been affected by the FAA conflict.
