Want faster network speeds? Let’s take a look at 3G, 4G LTE and 5G and what those terms actually mean for Verizon customers in terms of network speeds.
Don’t forget to check out how fast your network speed is right now and which high-speed networks are available in your area.
Network Basics: 3G, 4G and 5G
First, the basics: The “G” stands for generation, meaning 5G is the most current generation of cell phone network technology. 3G networks were the first ones fast enough to make smartphones practical. Before that, mobile networks were not able to support all the things that make smartphones great, like streaming videos, surfing the web and downloading music. 3G allowed customers to do all of these things for the first time, but is now no longer available.
But, it’s 4G that really allowed smartphone technology to spread its wings. That’s because it’s much faster than 3G. 4G opened new doors for downloading games or streaming videos in ways that were previously not practical.
Now, 5G is where the world is headed. Verizon 5G is available in over 2700 cities nationwide, performs comparably to 4G LTE and is improving. And Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband, which is available in select areas, provides speeds up to 10x faster than 4G LTE, meaning users on Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network can stream, download, and surf the web faster than ever before.1
As networks evolved from 3G to 4G LTE, and now 5G, Verizon has taken steps to improve performance.
What does “LTE” mean? Verizon 4G LTE explained.
LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. It’s a term used for the particular type of 4G that delivers a fast mobile Internet experience. You’ll usually see it called 4G LTE (often found in the corner of your phone screen, where you see the classic service “bars”).
Using a 4G smartphone on Verizon’s 4G LTE network means you can, for example, download files from the Internet up to 10 times faster than with 3G. For 4G LTE to work, all you need is a smartphone that’s configured to work with it.
You can find all of Verizon’s 4G LTE phones here. These phones will connect automatically with the 4G LTE network where available.
