The short version

Key points

  • Early 5G promises included speeds 10 to 100 times faster than 4G and a range of advanced applications.
  • Low-band 5G generally provides broader coverage but can feel similar to 4G, while millimetre-wave 5G has limited practical range and reliability.
  • Non-standalone 5G still relies on 4G infrastructure, meaning some of the technology’s promised capabilities have not been fully realised.
  • Fixed wireless internet is one of the clearest current uses for 5G, particularly where fibre or other fixed broadband options are unavailable.
  • The industry is now focusing on satellite connectivity, Wi-Fi improvements and the future development of 6G.

The gap between the promise and the experience

5G was marketed as a fundamental change to wireless connectivity. Promised applications included remote surgery, autonomous vehicles and smart cities, alongside speeds many times faster than 4G. In practice, the everyday experience described in the report is more modest: patchy coverage, changing speeds and improvements that can be difficult to notice.

A speed-check study cited in the report found that average 5G speeds in many parts of the United States were below 50 megabits per second in 2020. That was faster than 4G in many cases, but nowhere near the broad expectations created by the marketing. Some testing also found low-band 5G performing more slowly than 4G LTE in particular situations.

Why 5G performance varies

The fastest version discussed is millimetre-wave 5G. It can deliver very high speeds, but its usefulness is limited by conditions and range. Obstacles such as trees can interrupt the connection, and the report describes it as unsuitable for many moving or outdoor scenarios.

Most widespread deployments use low-band 5G because it travels further and provides better coverage. However, this can make the service feel closer to an improved version of 4G than a completely new experience. The report also points to delays in releasing mid-band spectrum in markets including the United States and Australia as one factor affecting performance.

A network that was not fully ready

Another issue is that much early 5G was deployed as non-standalone 5G. This approach continues to rely on existing 4G infrastructure. As a result, some of the lower-latency and higher-performance features associated with the 5G vision were not available in the way consumers expected.

The report argues that the technology was promoted before there were enough practical applications to justify the expectations. Earlier mobile generations had obvious consumer uses: 3G enabled mobile internet, while 4G supported services such as video streaming, app-based transport and live video. By comparison, 5G’s consumer benefits are often limited to faster social media or video loading, which may not matter much on a phone with a smaller display.

The commercial problem

Carriers invested heavily in spectrum and network infrastructure, but the report says this spending has not produced a clear increase in average revenue per user. Consumers have generally not been willing to pay substantially more for faster mobile data, while providers have used discounted or free 5G handsets to encourage adoption.

Fixed wireless home internet is presented as the strongest current use case. It can provide broadband where fibre is unavailable, although the report questions whether this represents the transformative future originally promised. Better coverage, rather than higher peak speed, may be the improvement many customers value most.

What comes next

The report describes growing interest in direct-to-device satellite connectivity, including services intended to improve coverage in rural and remote areas. Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 are also expected to handle much of the high-bandwidth data used in homes, cafes and other locations.

The industry is already beginning to promote 6G, with development discussed in the context of around 2030. The central lesson from 5G is that technical capability alone is not enough: practical coverage, reliable performance and useful services need to exist before ambitious claims are made.

TechManPat’s conclusion

I see 5G as more overhyped than a scam. The technology itself is sound, but I think the industry overpromised, underdelivered and pushed the rollout before the real benefits were ready. I would wait for a service to provide a meaningful improvement in coverage or capability rather than adopting it simply because it carries the 5G label.
Source note

This knowledge-centre summary is based on the linked TechManPat video and reflects the information available when it was published. Check current pricing, availability and policies before acting.