Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission.Learn more.
Verizon, Sprint announce new 5G markets for 2018 and beyond
August 24, 2025
The first 5G-capable smartphones are only slated for release next year, but that isn’t stopping Verizon, as it announces the latest 5G market for 2018.
The carrierpreviously announcedplans to launch the next-generation technology in three to five markets before the end of the year. At the time, it revealed Sacramento as one of these cities. Now, the company hasconfirmedLos Angeles as the second market for 2018.
Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam may have also hinted at Boston as the company’s third 5G market. McAdam toldCNBCthat relationships with “progressive-minded cities” like Sacramento, Los Angeles and Boston were key to rolling out next-generation technology. We now know that Sacramento and Los Angeles are confirmed to get 5G this year, making Boston the odd one out.
Sprint waits until 2019 for 5G
Meanwhile, Sprint has added New York City, Phoenix, and Kansas City to its 5G markets for next year. The network plans to launch the technology in the first half of 2019. These new markets join Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. as Sprint’s first 5G markets.
Thefirst 5G phonesaren’t expected in 2018, but Verizon will be targetinghome useat first. So that means 5G-capable routers/equipment to use with your computer, set-top box, TV and other gadgets. The carrier is also using its own 5GTF standard at first, but plans to switch over to the official 3GPP NR standard when the latter standard is up and running.
Excited about 5G? Don’t care unless data prices are cheaper? Let us know in the comments!
Thank you for being part of our community. Read ourComment Policybefore posting.
