Mobile Carriers Turn to ‘C-Band’ to Boost 5G Coverage and Uptake

5G network

Saying their deployment of C-band equipment as part of their 5G networks is “game changing” and allows a 5G network to “reach its full potential,” both Verizon and AT&T have announced plans to deliver their fastest 5G offerings to more than 175 million customers by the end of 2023.

Both companies said C-band spectrum provides a middle ground and a good balance of both coverage and capacity and enables them to expand their 5G coverage and performance to more markets across the nation. In fact, they say, it enables them to provide expanded mobility and broadband services to millions more consumers and businesses.

“C-band spectrum will help enable our 5G network to reach its full potential — giving our customers the faster and increased connectivity they want,” Tony Seyfried, AT&T tech vendor manager, said in a press release announcing the company’s plans for C-band.

Verizon 5G Use at 20% 

The announcements come at a time when customers’ uptake rates of 5G service plans and devices remain low but are increasing.

Verizon reported in July that approximately 20% of its phone base is using 5G-capable devices with the vast majority supporting C-band. The company attributed the growth to broken-device trade-ins and its “biggest-ever upgrade” promotion, which drove consumers to new devices.

“Device upgrades, which were significantly higher compared to both second quarter 2020 and 2019, drove 5G adoption and step-ups to premium unlimited plans, a strong indicator that our strategy is working,” Matt Ellis, executive VP and CFO of Verizon Communications, said during the company’s Q2 2021 earnings call.

AT&T didn’t give usage numbers in its most recent earnings call but noted that it is in third place in the wireless market. “We are still early in the cycle of upgrading our base on to the 5G devices,” Jeffery Scott McElfresh, CEO of AT&T Communications, said in July during the Q2 2021 earnings call.

AT&T CEO, President and Director John Stankey added that these are high-value, high-utility services, and customers will have to make a decision to pay for them or not.

Expanding the C-Spectrum Build 

On Monday (Oct. 11), Ericcson announced AT&T had selected it to expand the 5G network and C-band spectrum build. The five-year agreement supports AT&T’s goal of covering 70 million to 75 million people with 5G over C-band by the end of 2022 and 200 million by the end of 2023.

This build will support AT&T’s recently acquired C-band spectrum and the launch of 5G Standalone (SA). The company says C-brand is critical for the deployment of 5G in the U.S. and will support future network enhancements.

Rival mobile carrier Verizon started deploying C-band equipment in April and said it will give more customers access to the company’s super-fast 5G Ultra Wideband service. C-band spectrum will enable 5G Ultra Wideband speeds and coverage for both mobility, home broadband and business internet solutions.

Adding ‘Game-Changing Capability’ 

The carrier said 100 million customers will have access to its 5G Ultra Wideband service on the C-band spectrum by the end of the first quarter in 2022. That will increase to more than 175 million people by 2023 and more than 250 million people by 2024.

“This is a massive undertaking designed to add this game-changing capability as quickly as possible to the network our customers already rely on for consistent, superior performance when they need it most,” said Kyle Malady, chief technology officer at Verizon.

5G Ultra Wideband is Verizon’s fastest 5G offering. Its speeds give smartphones new capabilities when used for multiplayer gaming, streaming 4K movies and video chatting in HD. The company reports this is the 5G offering that will support many more devices of the future in the Internet of Things.

Indeed, PYMNTS reports that healthcare, for example, is being transformed by 5G connectivity. Trends such as telehealth, Internet of Things (IoT)-based medical devices and remote surgery that makes use of state-of-the-art imaging equipment are all due to this one breakthrough.