Tested: Verizon's New 4G Beats 5G, Big Time

Verizon is rolling out an enhancement to 4G that absolutely blows away its own "nationwide" 5G, and that shows good signs for the new C-band 5G coming in 2022. Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS), a set of airwaves close to the C-band, has quietly started rolling out nationwide. I got a tip on two locations near me, so I went to check it out. CBRS appeared on sites configured for all of Verizon's latest technologies: 4G, its "nationwide" Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) 5G, and its super-speedy ultra wideband (UWB) 5G.

When tested, CBRS 4G beat DSS 5G. Why? Speeds dropped on DSS 5G because the sites weren't allowing DSS 5G to combine with CBRS 4G. If you have a Verizon phone and covet that "5G" icon, you'll be giving up the 40MHz of CBRS and trading it in for, usually, 10MHz of 5G, for a net loss of 30MHz. Better site firmware coming soon will let Verizon boost DSS 5G with CBRS 4G, to get that "5G" icon with the faster CBRS speeds. Regardless, up to 90% of the traffic will still be flowing over 4G until C-band arrives, making that "5G" primarily window dressing for now. If you’re in a spot with Verizon’s ‘UWB’ millimeter-wave 5G, it’s absolutely terrific. UWB is the fastest form of 5G available today. But the DSS ‘nationwide’ 5G just isn’t providing any advantage right now. I’d say, turn it off if you can and check back in a few months to see if they’ve improved the situation.