Skip to content
Residential
Business
Residential
Business
Building your order...
+

How fast is 5G home internet? (& is it good enough?)

How fast is 5G home internet amid urban congestion

If you’re considering upgrading or starting a new internet plan, you might be wondering how fast 5G home internet is. 5G home internet and fixed wireless access (FWA) are both terms used interchangeably to describe the use of 5G technologies from wireless cellular networks to deliver 5G internet into the home.

Depending on the FWA provider, the time of day and whether or not the network is congested, some 5G home internet plans typically provide a range of download speeds that vary from 40 Mbps to 300 Mbps.

However, the experience of 5G home internet for consumers can be different than advertised.

For example, during peak usage times, users on Reddit reported slowdowns of as much as 95% in densely populated areas with 5G infrastructure. This means a 300 Mbps 5G home internet connection could slow down to as little as 5 Mbps.
 
In this article, you’ll learn more about how fast 5G internet speeds are, and how 5G’s drawbacks might impact your internet connection.

The FWA technology gap

You deserve better internet

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) uses radio waves which are impacted by obstacles like buildings and trees, resulting in reduced reliability.

The FWA technology gap - You deserve better internet - fixed wireless icon

Is 5G home internet fast enough?

Whether or not 5G home internet is fast enough for your needs depends on several factors, as well as the activities you perform when accessing the internet.

If you depend on the internet for gaming, working from home or streaming content, then 5G internet may not be fast enough or provide a consistent experience for you.
 
Most people consider download speeds first when figuring out their usage needs. People consume more data when downloading. However, upload speeds are essential for sending large amounts of data.
 
Your actual speed experience can vary, as 5G home internet speeds may be affected by factors that even the FWA provider cannot control including:

    • Distance from cell towers
    • Weather events
    • Coverage

Ask the Expert video tutorial: What are the disadvantages of 5G home internet?

Location

Your location can be a limiting factor, for example, 5G home internet coverage isn’t available everywhere.

Because 5G home internet uses radio frequencies, signals are limited by distance. The further you are from the radio towers, the weaker your internet signal will be.

Moreover, even if you’re near the radio towers, buildings, trees and other objects can block those signals.
 

On the other hand, due to fiber’s robust design, fiber-powered ISPs can deliver a more consistent connection. Fiber is resistant to electromagnetic interference, temperature changes and weather conditions, leading to fewer service interruptions.

Infrastructure

Fiber’s infrastructure also enables solutions like Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), providing direct connections from the fiber hub to the network of any residence or business.

With fiber-powered Gig internet, customers can connect their phones, tablets, TVs, gaming consoles and other devices to access a more consistent connection.

Selection

While both fiber internet and 5G can deliver speed, with fiber consumers can choose from multiple speed tiers, ranging from lower to higher speeds, based on their needs, demands and plans.

Switch & save

Astound Broadband is the #1 cable ISP

Stream live content, work, surf, game and connect to multiple devices with speeds up to 1500* Mbps through our ultra‑reliable fiber‑powered network.*

CTA round con purple-Astound rated number 1

Astound internet vs. 5G home internet providers

As each FWA provider offers different upload and download speed ranges, as well as rules around throttling, congestion, network priority, and fair use policies, be sure to read through the technical specifications to understand exactly what you’re receiving.

Though speed is an important factor in choosing your internet plan, also consider:

    • Latency.
    • Jitter.
    • Lag.

Why?

Typically, 5G internet providers cannot guarantee a specific speed; instead, they provide a range of speeds.
 
Moreover, there are other factors to consider when assessing 5G home internet, such as latency, jitter, and lag.

Ask the Expert video tutorial: What is the experience using 5G home internet while streaming video or live TV?

1. Latency

Latency is the amount of time it takes for a data packet to go from one place to another. 5G promises lower latency. But in areas where 5G infrastructure is underdeveloped or overburdened, users may still experience significant latency, as some Redditors have reported.

If you want a more consistent connection, look for a solution like cable or fiber-powered internet.
 

2. Jitter

Jitter is when there is a time delay between packets of data transmitted over a network. In 5G networks, some users from reddit have reported that jitter is more pronounced in areas with unstable 5G signals, or during peak hours.

If you work from home during normal working hours on a 5G home network, you might experience poor video and audio quality. These disruptions are the direct results of jitter affecting your home 5G network.
 

3. Lag

Lag is almost always the result of high latency. In situations where the network is congested, or signal is weak, users might still experience noticeable delays when gaming or streaming, as seen on Reddit.

For instance, some users report their 5G home internet working at 200 Mbps, but when gaming or streaming their 5G home internet connection drops to about 10 Mbps.

Ask the Expert video tutorial: How reliable is a 5G home connection?

Let’s take a look at some of the top 5G home internet providers, and what they offer in terms of speed and reliability.

AT&T

AT&T Internet Air 5G home internet speeds:

    • The maximum download speed available is 140 Mbps.
    • Currently available only in select areas.
    • AT&T may temporarily slow data speeds if the network is busy. Service may be slowed, suspended, terminated or restricted for misuse, abnormal use, interference with AT&T’s network or ability to provide quality service to others.​

T-Mobile

T-Mobile 5G home internet speeds:

    • Maximum download speed available is 245 Mbps.
    • Currently available only in select areas.
    • 25% of users experience slower speeds than advertised.
    • During congestion, Home Internet customers may notice speeds lower than other customers due to data prioritization.

Verizon

Verizon 5G home internet speeds:

    • Maximum download speed of 300 Mbps.
    • Currently available only in select areas.
    • On certain plans, Verizon may prioritize your 5G and 4G LTE data behind other traffic. If the cell site you are connected to begins experiencing high demand during the duration of your session, your 5G and 4G LTE data speeds may be slower than the other traffic’s speed.

As you can see, while 5G home internet typically can deliver speeds of 40 Mbps to 300 Mbps, it comes at a trade-off.
 
With Astound’s high speed internet you can get maximum download speeds of 300 Mbps* for $20 per month. You also have the option of maximum download speeds of 2,000 Mbps in select areas, which is more than 14x-50x faster than most 5G home internet providers.

With these fiber-powered speeds, you can connect 10x as many devices, and support multiple users on your home network – at scale.

Moreover, you have freedom to choose the exact speed that best fits your lifestyle whether you’re gaming, working from home or streaming

 
Learn more about the differences between fiber-powered internet and 5G home internet.

Fiber-powered internet

Why Fiber Internet works better

Astound’s fiber-powered internet provides consistent speeds throughout the day versus 5G Home Internet which is prone to intermittency.

Fiber optic cable icon

5G home internet speeds vs. cable or fiber internet

Though 5G FWA providers boast speeds upwards of 300 Mbps, these speeds are typically inconsistent and can be affected by internal and external factors.

Learn more about how 5G compares to fiber.

While 5G home internet plans may have a lower price point, this lower price point comes at an additional cost that consumers may have to shoulder.

Alternatively, fiber’s robust design makes it resistant to electromagnetic interference, temperature changes and weather conditions, leading to fewer service interruptions.

Fiber is less susceptible to damage or breakage and has a longer lifespan.

If your home has a lot of users or devices connected to the internet, fiber internet can bring you the most consistent connection possible.

Ask the Expert video tutorial: What you should consider before getting 5G home internet.

Bottomline: Is 5G home internet good enough?

While 5G wireless technology aims to provide users with fast speeds, low latency and increased reliability, the technology is still developing.

5G home internet varies depending on factors like location, network architecture, availability and plans.

Fiber-powered internet is a better solution than 5G home internet.

Not only does fiber and cable internet possess the most developed internet infrastructure, but it provides faster speeds and lower latency than 5G.
 
Fiber-powered internet is perfect for data-intensive activities including:

    • Streaming high-res videos.
    • Online gaming.
    • File transfers.
    • Video conferencing.
    • Cloud applications.
Young woman consulting online sits in a wheelchair

Our fiber-powered internet and mobile solutions provide affordable, high-speed internet connectivity.  Astound offers fiber-powered internet speeds from 300 Mbps to 1.5 Gbps, allowing you to surf, stream, work, learn or game without interruption.

Additionally, we offer mobile plans so you can stay connected on-the-go.

 
We know everyone uses their devices differently. Through our fiber-powered internet offerings, you and your friends can browse, stream and game across multiple devices on your home network.

If you’re searching for the most reliable and fastest internet solution for your business or household, consider Astound Broadband.

Read more about our internet and mobile plans.

Frequently asked questions

On average, 5G home internet providers typically offer download speeds of 40 – 300 Mbps and upload speeds of 10 – 50 Mbps. These speeds are subject to location and availability.

5G is a robust solution for wireless-enabled devices, such as cell phones. In the home, however, you may experience that 5G home internet speeds are not consistent or do not support your total number of devices and users.

There are a range of factors that can cause 5G home internet to slow down. Hardware and software issues, weather events, large structures, peak usage times, network congestion and distance from cell towers can all affect a 5G home internet connection.

Create the perfect plan

Get the speed, WiFi and mobile that’s just right for you.

Disclaimers

*Internet speeds may vary & are not guaranteed. Certain equipment may be required to reach advertised speeds. DOCSIS 3.1 modem with 2.5GE physical LAN port is required for 1 Gigabit speeds and higher. See astound.com/yourspeed for why speeds may vary. To view Astound’s FCC Network Management Disclosure see astound.com/policies-disclaimers. Modem required for Internet service. No contract required. Subject to availability. We substantiate that the cable modem equipment provided, and the configuration of such cable modem, meets the broadband speeds advertised when attached to a wired connection based on SamKnows testing procedures.

Not all services, speeds, packages, equipment, channels, tiers, pricing, streaming services, product offerings and product features are available in all areas. Offers valid only for new residential customers or previous customers with account in good standing who have not had our service within the last 60 days. All names, logos, images and service marks are property of their respective owners. Other restrictions may apply.

While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained in this site has been obtained from reliable sources, Astound Broadband is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. All information in this site is provided “as is”, with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Certain links in this site connect to other websites maintained by third parties over whom Astound Broadband has no control. Astound Broadband makes no representations as to the accuracy or any other aspect of information contained in other websites.

AT&T Internet Air, T-Mobile 5G home internet and Verizon 5G home internet details were pulled from their respective websites on December 5, 2023.  *Internet speeds may vary & are not guaranteed. Certain equipment may be required to reach advertised speeds. Limited time offer, subject to change without notice. Advertised promotional pricing valid for 12 or 24 months from service start date, subject to change thereafter. Astound offers month-to-month service with base discounted introductory rate tiers. Prior to the end of any discounted rate tier, subscribers receive a notice informing them of the end of the discounted rate tier and providing information about the next discounted rate tier. Unless otherwise specified, 2-year price lock only available w/ promo internet pricing for speeds of 500 Mbps or greater. Unless otherwise specified in the offer details, price does not include an Internet Infrastructure or Network Access and Maintenance Fee of up to $16.93/mo, subject to change. Additional fees apply for taxes and surcharges, and are subject to change. For details about fees & taxes visit astound.com/fees. Offer includes a monthly discount for enrollment in both automatic payments (autopay) & paperless billing (e-bill). Discount of $10 applies with automated bank account deduction or a discount of $5 applies with automated credit/debit card payment. Valid email address required. Must complete enrollment in autopay and e-bill within 30-days of placing the order. Without enrollment, the discount does not apply. Discount appears on bill within 3 bill cycles after enrolling. If either autopay or e-bill is canceled, services are changed, or the account is not in good standing, then the monthly discount will be discontinued.
**Source 

eero Plus is available for an additional $9.99/month and requires subscription to whole home WiFi powered by eero.