Verizon is rolling out faster 5G in more places, but you’ll have to guess where

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Customers in many markets across the US could get significantly faster 5G speeds even if they are not near a cell tower, according to the company. According to a press release on Monday, this is possible due to the fact that the carrier is using 100 MHz of bandwidth instead of 60 MHz. When engineers were near active cell sites, they got very fast download speeds, but they dropped to 500 Mbps after they moved further away from the towers.

When the engineers conducted the test, how far from the towers were they?

They would have to use millimeter wave technology to get higher speeds than that. If you want to use that tech, you will need to be within the line of sight of the tower to use it. Even if you aren't near the cell towers, C-band will still provide better speeds.

Kevin King wouldn't say where the new spectrum is being activated today, but he did say that the company has 100MHz of spectrum available in the 30 markets. The company's agreement with the FAA to create buffer zones around airports for planes that might have their equipment affected by cellular signals limits where and when C-band coverage can be rolled out.

The benefits of the extra spectrum are being promised by the company. The company says it will be able to handle more users and have more capacity for things like its 5G home internet with the 100 MHz roll outs.

After paying billions for the right to use the C-band spectrum, the company has promised to deploy more and more of it. Its press release on Monday states that it will expand to 200 MHz in the future.

The company has increased prices on some of its plans. It blames higher fees on economic conditions and the cost of complying with regulatory requirements. Customers aren't getting faster speeds for free even if their plans stay the same. Not every 5G plan gives you access to the ultra wideband network. Our guide to phone plans can give you more information.