Apple is expected to release iPhone 12 next week, which is the first phone to support 5G in Apple ecosystem, but unfortunately the US mobile operators are not yet fully prepared for the fifth generation communication system.
“5G” will be one of the main selling points of the iPhone 12. Compared to the current 4G LTE technology, 5G will make the iPhone cellular network download speeds many times faster. However, in the United States, 5G network coverage is still limited.
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The three major U.S. mobile carriers, Verizon Communications, AT&T, and T-Mobile, have so far not rolled out truly high-speed or extensive coverage of 5G services.
If US operators don’t significantly upgrade their networks soon, many consumers who buy the latest iPhone may find that the iPhone 12’s key features become bland with the lacking 5G reach.
In the first half of this year, RootMetrics, a division of research firm IHS Markit, tested 5G networks in 125 U.S. locations. That test found that AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint’s 5G networks were only slightly faster than 4G LTE.
While the U.S. is lagging behind in 5G construction, consumers aren’t expecting much from 5G.
A study conducted by Global Wireless Solutions that asked 5,000 U.S. smartphone owners revealed that while consumers are interested in 5G, 74 percent of consumers don’t think they’ll see any tangible benefits from 5G this year. In addition, 38 percent of consumers said they would not pay more for 5G, insisting that they should not be charged more for improved network and device performance.