The world’s first 5G networks are still more patchy than powerful

In March tests conducted by RootMetrics in the US, the choice appeared to be between fast speed with negligible availability, or wider availability without much of a speed bump. — AFP

Fifth-generation networking hype has been in full force since Qualcomm Inc declared “5G is here, and it’s time to celebrate” in February of last year. The reality, however, has required patience from consumers due to the time needed to roll out the new networks and the dearth of applications to put additional speed to compelling use.

A year after South Korea launched the world’s first full commercial 5G network and months after China opened the world’s biggest, Bloomberg News reporters tested the leading carriers in both countries to see how far 5G has gotten. Tests in Hong Kong and Tokyo showed similar results – gaps in coverage that could leave most early adopters waiting for networks to reach full speed.