Why doesnt nebraska have 5g

5G is the fifth generation of wireless network technology, designed to meet today’s growing data demands while expanding the scope of mobile technology beyond the capabilities of LTE. With 5G, large amounts of data can be transmitted much more efficiently than with 4G LTE, and that means faster speeds, less lag, and the ability to handle many more connections without buffering. Over time, these improvements will unlock amazing innovations and transform the way we live, work, and play. 

Learn more about 5G

You’ll need a 5G-capable device to access T‑Mobile's 5G network. If you have a 5G-capable device, good news—5G access is included in all our plans, at no additional cost. Don’t have a 5G device just yet? No worries, our 4G LTE network has you covered just about everywhere. 

We’re rapidly building out our 5G network—over 90% of Americans have access to T‑Mobile 5G today. While 5G grows, you can rely on our 4G LTE network that covers 99% of Americans. 

5G Extended Range is our low-band 5G network. It makes up the foundation of our nationwide 5G and brings 5G service to big cities, rural towns, and unexpected places in between. Our 5G Extended Range can deliver average download speeds 2x as fast as our LTE.

We’re continually deploying Ultra Capacity 5G in more places and are on track to have it deployed nationwide to over 200 million Americans by end of 2021.

Yes—5G is faster than 4G LTE, but actual speeds may vary depending on your device and network conditions. On average, 5G can deliver speeds 3x as fast as 4G LTE.

Yes, Sprint customers with a capable device can access T‑Mobile’s 5G network, but due to technical limitations, some parts of T‑Mobile’s 5G network aren’t available to Sprint customers yet. To view Sprint’s 5G coverage, visit the Sprint coverage map.

Strong, dependable network connectivity is more critical than ever, and by joining forces, T‑Mobile and Sprint are building the largest and most reliable 5G network. The new T‑Mobile network will deliver:

• More capacity – 14 times more network capacity in the next six years than T‑Mobile could offer alone. That means more power for streaming, gaming, downloading, and more.
• Crazy-fast speed – customers will have access to average 5G speeds that are up to eight times faster than current LTE in just a few years, and 15 times faster over the next six years.
• 5G for nearly everyone – within six years, the new T‑Mobile will provide 5G to 99% of the U.S. population, including rural America.

In more remote areas of the country, coverage may be provided by local wireless network partners. Most T‑Mobile plans include a limited amount of data in these areas. Check your plan or see roaming details. Look for the designated partner areas on our map. Signal strength will vary by partner. Not available for prepaid Mobile Internet (tablet and wearable) plans.

5G Ultra Capacity includes our mid-band and/or mmWave 5G. It can give you a perfect balance of far-reaching coverage and super-fast speeds, and we have this available in more places than anyone else! 5G Ultra Capacity can deliver speeds as fast as wi-fi right to your phone.

Every 5G device we carry today can tap into our 5G Extended Range and 5G Ultra Capacity.

Service in California may be impacted by temporary Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) or by events such as storms, fires, and earthquakes. In affected areas, the ability to place or receive calls, send, or receive texts, or access data may be impacted. Check out our California service impact map to see possible affected areas.­

Over the last two decades, the power and connectivity of mobile devices have taken unimaginable strides.

Whether you use a smartphone to shop online, track your exercise regime with a smartwatch, make a doctor’s appointment or play music using Wi-Fi-connected speakers, these devices have revolutionized the way we live, play and work. And it’s just the beginning.

The next generation of wireless technology, called 5G, will unlock new possibilities in medicine, transportation, construction, communication and countless other areas of life. Upgrading the nation’s wireless communications infrastructure to 5G will mean lower latency and broadband speeds at least 10 times faster than what today’s 4G networks offer.

A study conducted by the American Consumer Institute estimates that building out Nebraska’s 5G wireless service will deliver significant economic and consumer benefits to the state, including a $2.7 billion increase in gross state product over a 7-year period and the creation of more than 2,500 jobs during each year of its construction.

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These figures ignore the thousands of new jobs that will be created once these wireless broadband networks operate. We estimate additional consumer benefits will top $7 billion. Another study estimated that these next generation networks will enable smart grids, new health applications – with the potential to deliver trillions of dollars in additional benefits across the country.

The process of building the infrastructure needed to support 5G capabilities is a gargantuan task. While current 4G wireless technology relies on tens of thousands of large cell towers, 5G will operate on a network of potentially millions of small cell antennas, most as tiny as a shoe box, installed in neighborhoods throughout the country.

However, wireless service companies operating in Nebraska face a myriad state and local regulations. Outdated rules, delays in permit approval, deployment moratoria and high fees are just some of the barriers wireless companies must navigate. Regulatory requirements often vary from locality to locality, slowing down deployment efforts and unnecessarily raising the cost. In effect, regulations and fees can vary across the state’s 93 counties and 460 townships.

Combined, these inconsistent policies increase deployment costs, which will reduce investment in 5G, potentially depriving consumers of the benefits from state-of-the-art wireless broadband services.

A growing number of states are already taking steps to reform their regulations to encourage investment from wireless providers. They recognize the value that 5G technology will bring to their communities and are working to create a favorable regulatory environment to accelerate small cell deployment. But while some states are moving ahead with reforms to remove barriers to 5G, Nebraska could fall behind.

For example, the cost of deploying a host of 5G antennas into existing streetlights and public poles can quickly become prohibitive and derail state-of-the-art wireless broadband investments. In Lincoln, for instance, investors face a $1,500 permitting fee per antenna, along with an annual $1,500 attachment fee.

The empirical evidence shows that these fees impede investment. For example, a similar dearth of 5G investment once faced San Jose, California, before it dropped its annual fee from the thousands of dollars to just $175, according to one Federal Communications Commission filing. Next door in Iowa, Des Moines provides another example of where investments increased soon after reforms were instituted.

While more than 20 states have passed legislation to remove barriers to 5G deployment, Nebraska has not and, as a result, could soon fall behind. But that may soon change.

Introduced by Sen. Curt Friesen and cosponsored by Sen. John Lowe, LB184 (The Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act) would harmonize procedures, rates and fees across the state and eliminate unnecessary red tape, allowing service providers to build out 5G broadband networks in a timely and cost-effective way.

Lawmakers should act quickly to approve this legislation to ensure that Nebraskans reap the benefits of this next generation technology.

Steve Pociask is president of the Washington-based American Consumer Institute.

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