There’s this idea I’ve seen slowly starting to take shape that 5G internet will someday be able to solve America’s internet woes. The idea is simple in theory: By placing 5G towers in neighborhoods, houses can connect to these towers for their internet needs instead of using a cable or fiber line. Since 5G is so fast, this means you’ll get a much better connection, right? In theory, yes, but in practice, no. 5G is a pretty neat technology, but it has some pretty major fundamental flaws built into it, and the underlying technology that makes it faster can still face the same limits you do today. So if you have the choice between a fiber line and 5G internet always pick the fiber line. Why? Let’s get into that:
5G is Only Fast When You See It
This might sound silly, but it is ultimately true: 5G internet requires line of sight to maximize it’s speed. If even a leaf gets between you and the 5G tower, your signal will immediately drop to 4G speeds. There’s even concerns that rain can affect your 5G signal. This is all due to how 5G works: 5G operates on a much higher frequency spectrum, meaning that the waves it sends out go shorter distances and have a significantly harder time going through objects.
At its fastest, 5G cannot pass through any kind of solid materials, and may even have difficulty in certain…
