While 5G is not only going to change wireless and impact every company in every industry, it is still just at the very beginning of its long journey. At the network level, the leader today in 5G is clearly AT&T Mobility. Verizon Wireless comes in second and other wireless carriers come in after that. Let’s take a closer look at what both offer today and what is still to come.

What puts AT&T Mobility in the lead is they have a list of 19 cities where they are working to launch 5G mobile service. Going forward, that list of cities will continue to grow, and the footprint within each city will continue to expand. What makes AT&T different from Verizon is simple. AT&T Mobility’s is a 5G mobile offering.

Verizon Wireless is next with their 5G Home product. This is not a mobile offering. They are testing and will offer 5G over fixed networks meaning at the home and office. A mobile offering is set for early next year, according to Verizon.

That’s the big two wireless networks. As for the equipment makers like Apple, Android, Samsung and others, it will be later in 2019 before the first 5G devices hit the market. I expect Apple will be late to the party as they always are. However, when they do arrive, the product will likely work well.