5G Wars: Who Will Win the Race for Gigabit Internet?
By Gino Villarini, Founder & CEO | April 15, 2018
It all started in 2012. That’s when Google rolled out Google Fiber, and the chase for gigabit speeds began. The industry was on fire.
Everyone wanted to win. But building gigabit internet over cables—fiber, copper, or coax—turned out to be difficult, expensive, and slow. Many providers, including Google, paused or pulled back.
So now, there’s a new hero in town.
5G can deliver internet at speeds of 1,000 Mbps or more, no cables needed. That’s why many call it Gigabit Wireless.
But what does that mean? Gigabit Wireless refers to any wireless technology that can provide gigabit speeds on your phone, using a hotspot, or accessing the internet at home.
Here’s how it works:
Mobile companies are testing fixed wireless in high-frequency bands—28 GHz, 38 GHz, and even 60 GHz. New players like Starry and Phazr are running trials. Big names like AT&T and Verizon are in the game, too. So is Facebook, with new gear in the microwave bands.
Most of these trials are called “5G,” right now, 5G and Gigabit Wireless are racing side by side.
The cable isn’t dead. Far from it.
New wireline tech, such as DOCSIS 3.x and G. FAST, is breathing life back into fiber, coax, and copper lines. These upgrades let wired networks reach gigabit speeds, too.
And when it works, it works well.
So, Who Wins?
You might think it’s 5G, or maybe fiber. But the real winner is neither. The real winner is the operator who uses both.
That’s right. The most innovative providers are building hybrid networks—using fiber for strength and wireless for speed.
Fiber gives you scalability and reliability. Wireless gives you flexibility and the speed to deploy.
Put them together? You get a network that’s fast, cost-effective, and future-ready. 5G and gigabit fiber don’t need to compete. Together, they’re more powerful. The companies that recognize this will shape the future of internet access.
Check out our hybrid internet solutions or reach out to our team today.
