During its Q4 2020 earnings presentation, Verizon provided updates on its accomplishments for 5G during 2020 and its targeted roadmap for 5G in 2021. Overall, Verizon is deploying its different forms of 5G spectrum, including 5G Nationwide and 5G Ultra Wideband throughout numerous cities in the United States.
Verizon’s 5G Update in 2020
5G Mobility
In mobility, Verizon offers 5G Nationwide, on low-band spectrum, using dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS). Specifically, 5G Nationwide currently covers 230 million Americans in 2.7k cities across the United States. Additionally, Verizon now has 64 cities with 5G Ultra Wideband coverage on high-band (millimeter wave) spectrum. Furthermore, Verizon notes that 5G Ultra Wideband can now achieve speeds of 4 gigabits per second to 5 gigabits per second, in certain instances.
Importantly, Verizon fully supports the recently launched iPhone 12 with its 5G Ultra Wideband offering. Indeed, the iPhone 12 antennas support high-band spectrum in the 28 GHz and 39 GHz frequencies, which together Verizon holds over 900 MHz of spectrum depth in.
Additional 5G Opportunities
In 2020, Verizon launched its Fixed Wireless Access product, known as 5G Home, in 12 cities (18 cities by early January) across the United States. Additionally, Verizon, in partnership with Amazon Web Services, has brought its Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) capability, known as 5G Edge, to 10 cities across the United States.
Digital Infrastructure
In 2020, Verizon deployed 5x more small cells, as compared to 2019, for its 5G Ultra Wideband service. Indeed, this equates to 10k high-band 5G small cell deployments, meaning Verizon ends 2020 with 16k high-band 5G small cells overall.
Verizon’s 5G Roadmap for 2021
After achieving its 2020 targets for 5G, Verizon also updates its roadmap for 5G in 2021.
5G Mobility
Verizon will launch 5G Ultra Wideband coverage on high-band (millimeter wave) spectrum in 20 additional cities in 2021. Indeed, this will bring Verizon’s total cities on 5G Ultra Wideband to 81 by the end of 2021, since Verizon has already launched 3 cities in 2021.
Additional 5G Opportunities
Verizon will launch its 5G Home, Fixed Wireless Access product, in 20 additional cities across the U.S. in 2021. In turn, this will bring Verizon’s total to 32 cities across the United States with 5G Home service.
In 2021, Verizon will expand its Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) capability to 10 additional cities across the United States. As a result, this will bring Verizon’s total to 20 cities across the United States with 5G Edge. Additionally, Verizon plans to scale its 5G private networks and private Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), based on demand.
Digital Infrastructure
Verizon plans to deploy 14k more small cells in 2021, for its 5G Ultra Wideband service. Consequently, Verizon will grow its total digital infrastructure to 30k high-band 5G small cells by the end of 2021. Specifically, these high-band 5G small cells will serve Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband customers.
