Verizon Wireless plans to launch 5G technology locally starting in the second half of 2018, making Houston the third city in Verizon's four-market deployment plan to deliver residential 5G broadband service. Verizon previously announced that 5G would be launched in Los Angeles and Sacramento, Calif. The 5G broadband service will use radio signals, rather than copper or fiber cables, to provide internet and phone services to the home. Verizon isn't expecting 5G to be available for mobile devices until mid- to late 2019. FULL STORY AT HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Verizon will beam 5G into Houstonians' living rooms "With 5G we are ushering in a fourth industrial revolution that will help reshape cities and lead to unprecedented innovation, and Houston will be at the forefront of that innovation," incoming CEO Hans Vestberg said in the news release. Many times faster than current cell service, 5G potentially could outstrip even the fastest home broadband currently available. It is expected to open up new applications, from truly high-end gaming on mobile devices to over-the-internet navigation for driverless cars. Theoretically, 5G will be able to achieve speeds of tens of gigabits per second, though most telcos talk initially about 1-2 Gbps speeds. Many variables can impact performance, from weather to terrain to buildings. But overall, experts say it will be much faster than LTE. RELATED: 5G promises Houstonians faster internet, more choice Verizon has been operating a 5G test site in northwest Harris County, near Grant Road and Texas 249. A research group which found the site indicated that data speeds tested there were faster than a user would normally see with current 4G LTE service. Sprint has previously named Houston as one of nine cities that will get its version of 5G. Transmitters and other infrastructure are being moved into place here this year, with sales of 5G service beginning in 2019.
Verizon Wireless is planning to launch 5 G service in the second quarter of 2018 in Houston as part of the company 's four - market plan to deploy residential 5 G broadband service ; transmitters and other required equipment are being put into place with the sales of 5 G service to begin in 2019 . The network will outcompete most home broadbands and is expected to focus on new applications such as over - the - internet navigation for driverless cars .