In short: Verizon’s next-generation router lineup will be advertised as “5G One” or “One 5G,” as indicated by a number of intellectual property filings reviewed by AndroidHeadlines. The hardware in question should launch as part of the 5G Home service the telecom giant announced earlier this month, confirming the seminal network is set to go live in select U.S. cities in October. Some of the routers and other accompanying hardware enabling 5G Home will be manufactured by Samsung, as suggested by the growing wireless partnership between the two companies.
Background: Verizon is already expected to market its first next-gen telecom offering as a “5Genius” service, especially given how the company now appears to be on track to win the 5G race in the U.S. Its seminal network won’t be a truly mobile service given how first 5G-enabled handsets aren’t scheduled to become available for purchase before early 2019. Instead, much like its name implies, 5G Home will be a fixed wireless access solution meant to serve as a broadband alternative. Verizon is the only major player in the stateside telecom industry that’s presently pursuing FWA tech, whereas all of its rivals remain solely committed to mobile 5G. AT&T will even be launching a truly wireless 5G service later this year but without handsets capable of supporting it natively, its customers will initially have to rely on “pucks” or hotspots to access next-generation speeds and latencies.
Impact: Regardless of any official monikers attached to it, Verizon’s 5G Home will go down in history as the first consumer-grade 5G service launched on any significant scale. Starting at $50 per month, the solution will allow customers in select cities to experience unprecedented speeds, capacities, and latencies. The largest network operator in the U.S. is also bundling a choice between Google Chromecast and Apple TV with the new service, in addition to giving three months of YouTube TV to all of its subscribers, all of which should help it build an early 5G lead over its rivals in terms of customers.