Ex-Google CEO thinks 5G in the US is a joke, calls out AT&T and Verizon

Nick Sutrich is from Android Central.

• Google's former CEO complains that China is ahead of the U.S. when it comes to 5G speeds and investment.
• He notes how 5G speeds are often slower than 4G for Verizon and AT&T, pointing out the lack of mid-band spectrum.
• The article calls for a stronger push from Washington, which has invested much less in 5G than China.

5G is a huge leap, giving us access to unprecedented speeds and lower latency to unlock new use cases and possibilities. In the U.S., where 5G has fallen behind, Eric Schmidt and Graham Allison argue that this has been far from the case.

In an article penned for The Wall Street Journal, the authors note that 5G speeds are often slower than 4G in many of the largest cities in the U.S. The test found that T-Mobile was the only carrier with a 5G network that was faster than its 4G network.

The average mobile internet speed in America is just 75Mbps, and it is likely due to the poor 5G performance of both AT&T and Verizon. South Korea has an average of 300Mbps, which is even faster than China. China has become the leader in supplying 5G infrastructure despite the U.S. sanctions against it.

The article points to the recent drama between U.S. airlines and carriers as an example of how Washington is. The innovation and competition act sets aside 1.5 billion dollars for 5G China is set to spend $100 billion on 5G in the same period.

China has invested in the mid-band spectrum as a big contributor to its leadership. T-Mobile is arguably the best wireless carrier in the U.S., and has been the leader in mid-band spectrum deployment.

While it seems like things may be picking up in the U.S., it's important for Washington to make 5G a priority so that China doesn't own the 5G future.

The Wall Street Journal has an article about it.