5G coverage is expanding – Find out if it’s near you

September 10, 2019

By Kim Komando

5G is the wave of the future, and carriers are already making headway in laying the infrastructure that will power tomorrow’s mobile phones. Each month, new locations pop up that enable access to the latest wireless standard. All you need is a compatible phone, carrier and live near one of the nation’s 5G hotspots to get started.With the rollout being progressive rather than all at once, it’s important to know which cities (and carriers) are ready for 5G today. Fortunately, there are options like interactive maps that illustrate the progress of 5G as it spreads across the U.S.Most notably, however, are some of the radical steps that carriers are taking to bring 5G to the masses. Just recently, Verizon officially announced that it’s launching its new 5G network in NFL stadiums across the country, with 13 scheduled to be live by the top of the 2019-20 football season. Here’s where they’re expanding, along with which other areas are 5G ready in the near future.

Verizon expands 5G beyond its plans into NFL stadiums all over the country

Verizon has announced that, as part of its coordinated 5G rollout, it would be expanding its service directly into NFL stadiums in multiple states across America. According to the company, this even includes cities that were not initially part of its 5G plans, making it an exciting opportunity for anyone looking to experience the next generation of mobile technology.As part of a joint venture with the NFL, this project may also serve the purpose of driving more traffic to NFL games, as the service will be primarily accessible from the seating area. For those of you hoping to stand outside of the field just to try out the service, you’re going to need to buy a ticket in order to give 5G a whirl.What’s notable about the 5G expansion is the fact that the service will directly enhance the game day experience of attendees. Since the service will be fast enough to handle the exchange of data, real-time game stats, live footage and augmented reality can be instantly tapped into during critical moments of the game. Very cool stuff.But to see all the action up close, we’ll have to wait until later this year. Stadiums confirmed to have 5G up and running by the start of the season include:Gillette Stadium (New England Patriots)MetLife Stadium (New York Giants and New York Jets)Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Dolphins)Broncos Stadium at Mile High (Denver Broncos)CenturyLink Field (Seattle Seahawks)Soldier Field (Chicago Bears)U.S. Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings)Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers)Ford Field (Detroit Lions)Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis Colts)M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore Ravens)NRG Stadium (Houston Texans)

Is 5G coming to my city?

There are a few easy ways to learn if 5G is making its way into your backyard. One of the most popular is Ookla’s 5G coverage map, which shows cities around the world that have fully unpacked their 5G infrastructure. This way, you can pinpoint the closest location that currently has the network standard enabled.Alternatively, the carriers themselves have published their upcoming rollout plans, as well as the cities that are getting the new technology in the next several months. Click or tap here to see our guide on which cities will be getting 5G in 2020.When 5G does arrive to your neighborhood, don’t forget that you’ll need a 5G compatible phone in order to take full advantage of the service. Keep in mind, however, that the ill-fated U.S. release of the Galaxy Fold as well as the upcoming iPhone 11 won’t be 5G compatible, so you might have to look into other candidates if you’re eager to test the system out.With how close 2020 is starting to get, it may be worth your time to start looking. The future is just around the corner.