CES 2019: Wireless companies put their big 5G gambles on display

I.P. Park, president and chief technical officer for LG Electronics, speaks on 5G connectivity during a keynote address at the 2019 CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. January 7, 2019. REUTERS/Steve Marcus

Fifth-generation wireless technology may one day handle sci-fi tasks like guiding driverless cars, but today’s consumers are more concerned with making their phones work faster – and that’s not lost on mobile carriers headed to CES in Las Vegas. 

In coming weeks, AT&T Inc will introduce an interim “5G E” service that promises 50% faster internet speeds in many places. Verizon Communications Inc was out first in September with a 5G home service, pitching ultra-high-definition TV and speeds up to 20 times faster.