Early 5G networks are more than two times faster than 4G

The US currently has the fastest 5G speeds in the world, according to new tests from Opensignal, with users able to access up to 1.8Gbps on their devices. This is 2.7 times faster than the 678Mbps maximum achievable on US 4G networks - an early indicator of the performance gains afforded by next generation infrastructure. Opensignal, which records ‘real life’ readings from user smartphones, tested networks in eight countries where 5G is already available – including the UK. It attributed the US’s strong performance to the fact that operators there are using millimetre Wave (mmWave) spectrum that offers high capacity but shorter range. This compares to all other nations which are using mid-range spectrum below 6GHz. In second place was Switzerland, where 5G users can enjoy 1.1Gbps (a 2.6-fold increase), while Australia was the only country where 4G outpaced 5G. This can be explained by the fact that Australia’s 4G networks can reach 950Mbps – close to the theoretical maximum.