5G internet is a broadband internet service that runs off a wireless company's 5G network. Unlike cable or fiber, 5G internet doesn't require a physical cable coming into your home or special installation. Instead, the internet service only needs a wireless receiver inside your home connected to 5G signals coming from nearby towers.
As one of the newest forms of home internet, 5G home internet service has become incredibly fast. It's also available from the largest wireless carriers, including T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, and from smaller popular MVNOs such as Mint Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. In many cases, 5G internet can also be bundled with a wireless phone plan, helping customers combine bills and save money.
Wondering if 5G home internet is right for you? Here’s everything you need to know about 5G internet, how it works, and if you're eligible to get it in your home.
What is 5G home internet?
5G home internet is a broadband internet service that runs off a local 5G cellular network. It's completely wireless and, in most cases, simply requires plugging in a gateway modem receiver. For customers who live in communities where traditional types of internet, like cable and fiber, aren't available, it's one of the best options for service outside satellite internet.
How does 5G home internet work?
5G home internet is considered a fixed wireless service, meaning it provides internet service to a specific, fixed location. While the technology is similar to a mobile hotspot, it can't be transported to another location.
Like a mobile phone, 5G home internet gateways contain a SIM card connected to the 5G network. When connected, the gateway converts 5G radio waves from nearby towers into a home Wi-Fi signal that's strong enough to support multiple devices and fast download speeds. Because 5G internet is wireless, the strength of the signal and download speeds are impacted by things like weather or a user's distance from the nearest 5G tower.
Is 5G internet like satellite internet?
No, while satellite internet and 5G home internet are both forms of wireless internet, they are two different kinds of services.
Satellite internet relies on satellites traveling hundreds of miles above the Earth. It requires a special receiver dish mounted on your home to find the signal from these satellites, and it is often very expensive.
Since 5G home internet uses nearby terrestrial towers that can beam a signal within your home, the service doesn't require a special dish or installation. Instead, you can simply plug in the gateway router and get service.
How fast is 5G home internet?
Depending on the 5G internet service provider you choose, average speeds are around 200Mbps, but customers with access to a high-band 5G signal may see speeds over 400Mbps.
5G internet speeds might not always be as fast as advertised. The 5G footprint is still growing, so it can't quite deliver the super-fast speeds to all customers yet. You can expect your 5G internet to either run on low-band 5G, mid-band 5G, or high-band 5G.
Low-band 5G
- Average data speeds at 100Mbps or less
- Low bandwidth
- High latency
If you’re in a more rural area, chances are you’ll encounter a low-band 5G connection. Low-band 5G refers to any internet connection with frequencies below 2GHz. As you probably guessed, low-band 5G internet falls on the slower end of things, so it will feel a lot like a 4G LTE connection.
Mid-band 5G
- Average data speeds at 100-200Mbps
- Decent bandwidth
- Lower latency
This kind of 5G connection falls between frequencies in the 2-10GHz range. Your internet device will use a mid-band 5G connection if you’re within a mile of a 5G cellular tower. Though it isn’t as fast as 5G wireless can go, a mid-band 5G connection will feel way faster than your old 4G LTE connection.
High-band 5G
- Average data speeds of 200Mbps or higher
- High bandwidth
- Low latency
If your home can access high-band frequencies (airwaves in the 11-100GHz range), you’ll likely be blown away by your internet speeds. This is the fastest 5G signal type currently available and is only found at select urban locations. When testing regular wireless plans, we've seen download speeds at over 800Mbps on Verizon and 600Mbps on T-Mobile when connected to these high-band 5G networks. While your home internet speeds will likely be slower, you can still expect speeds over 400Mbps.
What equipment is needed for 5G home internet?
All you'll need to begin your 5G home internet service is a 5G-enabled modem. This will be provided by the carrier when you purchase your plan. These native devices won't always provide the fastest Wi-Fi speeds, but there are other options available. Some carriers—like T-Mobile—offer better modems and routers with their more expensive plans. You can also purchase a separate third-party router and connect it to your home network.
Check out our guide on 5G modems and routers to learn what to look for when picking your next 5G wireless gateway.
Where is 5G available?
5G internet is still rolling out nationwide. Whether or not you can use 5G internet depends on where you live and what wireless network you use. Remember, 5G connectivity is still deployed exclusively by mobile wireless carriers, even for home internet connections.
As it stands for 2025, here’s how the ranking breaks down for 5G coverage in the United States:
5G network coverage compared
| Carrier | Nationwide 5G coverage | View details |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | 53.79% | View Plans |
| AT&T | 29.52% | View Plans |
| Verizon | 12.77% | View Plans |
T-Mobile currently leads all other wireless carriers when it comes to 5G internet coverage. AT&T and Verizon’s 5G coverage hasn’t rolled out as quickly, but it’s safe to assume that all carriers will up their 5G game in the coming years. It is important to note that while T-Mobile covers the most ground, it's not necessarily always the fastest. Most of T-Mobile's rural 5G coverage uses low to mid-band towers. Verizon, with its small 5G network, almost exclusively uses high-band 5G towers.
5G coverage vs. 5G internet availability
Just because you have a 5G phone signal at home doesn't mean you can get 5G internet. While 5G wireless coverage has steadily grown, 5G home internet's availability is still limited in many areas.
5G home internet requires a strong concentration of 5G towers with enough bandwidth to handle both internet and mobile wireless users. Remember, wireless companies will typically prioritize their mobile customers. If there are not enough towers to support both services, or if the carrier has hit its limit on the number of internet plans it can offer in your area, you won't be able to sign up.
Check out the 5G coverage maps below to get an idea if 5G internet may be available in your neck of the woods.
Verizon 5G coverage map
T-Mobile’s 5G coverage map
AT&T’s 5G coverage map
5G home internet plans and prices
5G home internet plans are available from major carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. You can also find them with smaller MVNO carriers like Mint Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile. The great thing about these internet plans is that they can be bundled with your wireless service, helping you consolidate bills and score extra discounts.
T-Mobile 5G home internet plans
Since AT&T tries to funnel most customers to its massive cable and fiber networks, T-Mobile and Verizon are the two most popular choices for 5G home internet service.
T-Mobile 5G Home internet is probably the most accessible of current options since T-Mobile has the largest 5G network. It offers download speeds up to 400Mbps and starts at $50/month. Compared to AT&T Internet Air, it's more widely available and offers lower prices. That said, you can score a major discount if you also sign up for a T-Mobile bundle that includes a postpaid unlimited plan, like getting $15/month off internet with Experience More or Experience Beyond.
|
T-Mobile
Rely Internet + T-Mobile voice line
$35/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
|
|
T-Mobile
Amplified Internet + T-Mobile voice line
$45/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
|
|
T-Mobile
Rely Internet
$50/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
|
|
T-Mobile
All-In Internet + T-Mobile voice line
$55/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
|
|
T-Mobile
Amplified Internet
$60/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
|
|
T-Mobile
All-In Internet
$70/mo
5 year price guarantee. With AutoPay. Guarantee exclusions like taxes and fees apply.
+ $35 Upfront
|
Verizon 5G internet plans
Verizon was technically the first to set up a home 5G internet connection, but it's also been hampered by the carrier's smaller network. T-Mobile offers its service to more customers for now. That said, Verizon's plans can be a little faster and might be as high as 250Mbps if you live close to a Verizon 5G ultra-wideband tower. It also offers separate plans and pricing for new customers vs. existing Verizon Wireless customers.
|
Verizon
myPlan + 5G Home Plus
$45/mo
with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan
|
|
Verizon
5G Home Plus
$60/mo
with AutoPay
|
|
Verizon
myPlan + 5G Home Ultimate
$60/mo
with AutoPay and any Verizon mobile phone plan
|
|
Verizon
5G Home Ultimate
$75/mo
with AutoPay
|
AT&T 5G internet plans
AT&T Internet Air is the most limited of any 5G home internet service. While AT&T has the second-largest 5G network, most customers won't qualify for Internet Air. The carrier mainly uses the service as an option for customers who can't hook up to its fiber network. If you can connect to AT&T's physical network, you likely won't be able to purchase the 5G home internet plan.
|
AT&T
Internet Air
$48/mo
Paperless billing required. Plus taxes & fees. Limited availability. May not be available in your area.
|
MVNO 5G internet plans
MVNOs are starting to offer their own lineups of 5G home internet. Like their cell service, the internet connectivity is purchased from one of the major carriers. Right now, Mint Mobile's MINTernet and Metro by T-Mobile's 5G Home are two of the most popular choices. Both of them operate on T-Mobile's 5G network, offering solid data speeds and connectivity.
|
Mint Mobile
3 Month Home MINTernet
$40/mo
$120.00 upfront payment for 3 months
|
|
Metro by T-Mobile (MetroPCS)
5G Home Internet
$40/mo
with AutoPay. Voice plan with Metro by T-Mobile required.
+ $49.99 Upfront
|
5G internet vs. wired internet types
Some customers will need to choose between 5G internet and a wired connection, like cable or fiber. Overall, you'll get faster speeds and better bandwidth from a wired connection, but you may miss out on things like bundled discounts and lower installation costs.
5G home internet pros:
- Option to bundle with wireless bill
- Can support large number of connected devices in your home
- Easy Wi-Fi installation
5G home internet cons:
- Limited availability, especially mmWave
- Can be more expensive than cable or fiber
- Must live close to 5G network location
5G internet vs. fiber internet
Fiber is the best form of internet connectivity currently available, offering much faster speeds and higher bandwidth than 5G home internet. If you can get it, this is the internet connection you should pick. Fiber offers download speeds up to 8Gbps, converting data into pulses of light moving through ultra-thin strands of glass in fiber-optic cables. Fiber is also currently more widely available than 5G home, though it's still more limited than cable.
5G internet vs. cable internet
Comparing 5G internet and cable, the fastest 5G internet plans can match the average speeds of cable. That said, cable is still one of the most accessible, cheap, and fastest internet options available to most customers. Many cable plans offer download speeds up to 1Gbps, and its wired connection means that it has plenty of bandwidth and low latency too. While this is a closer battle, most customers will have a better experience with cable unless they want to bundle their internet and wireless bills.
5G internet vs. DSL internet
You shouldn't find yourself comparing these two internet types because DSL is being discontinued across the nation. While both 5G internet and DSL internet use phone systems to provide an internet connection, that's where the similarity ends. 5G relies on wireless signals while DSL typically uses old copper phone lines. As for speeds, DSL typically maxes out as a tortoise-like 35Mbps, making 5G internet's 200Mbps speeds the much better option.
Is 5G home internet for you?
While not yet available everywhere, 5G internet has rapidly shaken up the home internet market, offering a wireless alternative to cable and fiber without the baggage associated with satellite internet. 5G internet may be a great option for your next home internet service if:
- You want to bundle your home internet with your wireless plan.
- Wired alternatives like cable and fiber aren't available at your home.
- Your neighborhood is near a strong 5G tower.
If these situations don't apply, you may be better off with another form of internet serivce instead.
5G home internet: FAQs
Does 5G home internet have data caps?
Most 5G home internet plans don't have data caps. That said, depending on your service provider, the plans may still face bouts of deprioritization during network congestion.
Will weather affect my 5G internet signal?
Yes, bad weather can negatively impact your 5G internet signal by slowing it down. That said, the disruptions are typically temporary and not as severe as how weather affects satellite internet signals.
Is 5G home internet cheap?
5G home internet is cheap when bundled with a corresponding wireless plan. For example, T-Mobile's Rely plan is just $35/month when bundled with a T-Mobile postpaid plan.
Can I self-install 5G home internet?
Yes, self-installing 5G home internet is how most customers set up their service. Since it doesn't require a physical connection, in most cases, you simply need to plug in your gateway modem.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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