45 US Cities Are Trialing 5G Service — Coverage Map and Latest News

5G National Deployment Map

After a decade of standards planning, a suite of 5G network trials and a whole lot of hype, commercial mobile 5G networks are finally being rolled out across the U.S. See the full list of trial cities and launch status.

Much has been made about the race to adopt the new wireless standard between China and the U.S., and tensions have only risen since allegations of espionage were levied against Huawei, a company on the bleeding edge of 5G infrastructure development.

Now, it appears that there are more U.S. cities in the planning stages of rolling out 5G small cells than in China, though the timelines for both countries differ.

China has set a goal of connecting 40 cities with the next-generation technology by October 1st¹ of this year. Meanwhile, the majority of the U.S. cities trialing the standard are aiming for late 2019 to early 2020 (some trials are already underway).

Carriers began announcing 5G trial cities in 2016, experimenting with the new technology across diverse environments and scenarios. After hundreds of tests conducted across dozens of 5G trial cities around the country, the first commercial 5G networks went live late last year, before most consumers could get their hands on any devices that could even access the network.

In 2019, as the first 5G-capable smartphones and other consumer devices are slowly arriving, the major carriers are ramping up their 5G network deployments. Below, you’ll find a national 5G deployment map, as well as a state-by-state breakdown of where service is currently in place, as well as where it is planned to roll out.

What is 5G?

5G is the latest and fifth cellular network technology standard. 5G is considered a significant evolution over 4G in terms of speed, latency and capacity, and is expected to revolutionize mobile broadband.

Notably, the technology will make use of millimeter wave (mmWave) radio frequency spectrum in bands between 30 GHz and 300 GHz. mmWave spectrum allows for faster data speeds — reaching up to 20 Gbps in theory — and latencies that are 60 to 120 times faster than 4G.² But mmWave will only be deployed in specific high-traffic areas like major urban centers.

Other 5G networks will utilize 5G technology across lower spectrum bands between 600 MHz to 6 GHz.³ Those networks won’t be able to deliver 20 Gbps speeds for mobile broadband available in mmWave, but they will still offer a healthy improvement over 4G’s theoretical peak of 150 Mbps down.

Is 5G dangerous?

Public concerns over possible negative health impacts related to 5G have grown in recent months as carriers have begun turning on 5G services. Most of the concern is centered on possible exposure to mmWave radio frequency radiation. The FCC regulates radiation exposure through cellular devices, and periodically reviews its RF exposure guidelines to ensure they are in line with current scientific thinking.⁴

To date, there is no scientific evidence indicating consumers are at risk of harm when using cellular devices, including ones that use mmWave spectrum. While there have been studies released that indicate high levels of exposure to radio frequency radiation can have negative health impacts on lab rats, these studies typically use higher levels of radiation than what a consumer is exposed to from a cellular device.⁵

5G vs. 5G E and other pseudo-5G services

While commercial 5G networks are only just now becoming available to consumers, wireless carriers have been touting “5G” services in their marketing materials for some time. A particularly egregious example of this occurred in December 2018, when AT&T announced it was deploying “5G evolution” (5G E) across 400 markets. Observers were quick to point out that what AT&T was calling 5G E was actually a 4G LTE Advanced network, and that the only upgrade those networks had seen was a software upgrade that changed the network icon on subscribers’ phones from 4G LTE to 5G E.⁶

Despite marketing spins, true 5G networks are based on the 3GPP release 14 and 15 standards, and are only now becoming available to consumers in the U.S.

State-by-State 5G Rollout Plans

Arizona 5G Trial Cities

Phoenix 5G Trials

Provider(s): Sprint; Verizon
Status: Sprint to launch service in 1H2019; Verizon to launch 5G service by the end of 2019
More: Sprint announced in February that it would launch 5G services in Phoenix in the first half of 2019. Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in Phoenix by the end of 2019.

Arkansas 5G Trial Cities

Little Rock 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in Little Rock by the end of 2019.

California 5G Trial Cities

Los Angeles 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint
Status: AT&T’s network is live; T-Mobile network is not live; Sprint to launch service in 1H2019
More: Los Angeles was one of the cities that saw AT&T’s initial 5G network launch in late 2018. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

The city was also part of T-Mobile’s planned deployment of 5G networks late last year. T-Mobile has said it will not begin offering commercial services until 5G-capable smartphones become available in 2019, and has not offered any updates as to how far along it’s gotten in its deployment within the city.

Sprint announced in February that it would launch 5G services in Los Angeles in the first half of 2019

Sacramento 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Trial network went live in 2017
More: Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Sacramento in 2017, followed by a commercial launch of its 5G fixed wireless home broadband service last year.

San Diego 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T; Verizon
Status: AT&T’s network is live; Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: San Diego was part of AT&T’s initial 5G network launch in late 2018. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of San Diego by the end of 2019

San Francisco 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: San Francisco was another one of AT&T’s initial 5G network launches late last year. However, the network is currently only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot. AT&T has not begun selling 5G-capable phones yet.

San Jose 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: San Jose was part of AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. However, the network will only be accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Colorado 5G Trial Cities

Denver 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Trial network went live in 2017, Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Sacramento in 2017, and announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Denver by the end of the year.

District of Columbia 5G Trial Cities

Washington 5G Trials

Provider(s): Sprint; Verizon
Status: Sprint to launch service in 1H2019; Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Sprint announced in February that it would launch 5G services in Washington D.C. in the first half of 2019.

Verizon held a trial in Washington D.C. in 2018 that used mmWave spectrum to transmit data to a test van. Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of the city by the end of 2019

Florida 5G Trial Cities

Jacksonville 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: Jacksonville was one of the cities that saw AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Orlando 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: Orlando was also part of AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. The network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot. AT&T has not yet begun selling 5G-capable phones.

Miami 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Trial network went live in 2017
More: Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Miami in 2017.

Georgia 5G Trial Cities

Atlanta 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T, Sprint, Verizon
Status: Sprint & AT&T’s networks are live; Verizon to launch services by end of 2019
More: Atlanta was one of the cities that saw AT&T’s initial 5G network launch in late 2018. The network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Sprint launched 5G services in Atlanta at the end of May, alongside a handful of 5G phones from LG and HTC.

Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Atlanta in 2017. It said in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Atlanta by the end of the year.

Illinois 5G Trial Cities

Chicago, IL 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon, Sprint
Status: Sprint & Verizon’s networks are live
More: Verizon rolled out commercial 5G services in Chicago in April. But the service is only available in parts of the city, such as the West Loop and South Loop, Union Station, Willis Tower and Millennium Park. Initial reviews indicate signal coverage is still pretty spotty. But when phones were able to connect to the network, reviewers reports speeds between 300-600 Mbps. Verizon is now selling Samsung S10 5G phones that can access the network.

Sprint launched 5G services in Chicago at the end of May, which is also when Sprint will begin selling 5G phones from LG and HTC.

Indiana 5G Trial Cities

Indianapolis 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T, Verizon
Status: AT&T’s network is live; Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Indianapolis was part of the initial batch of cities where AT&T rolled out 5G services late last year. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Indianapolis by the end of 2019.

South Bend 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Trial network Live
More: AT&T began is 5G trial in South Bend in 2018. The company has yet to announce when it will launch commercial services in the area.

Iowa 5G Trial Cities

Des Moines 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Des Moines by the end of 2019.

Kentucky 5G Trial Cities

Louisville 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: Louisville was one of the cities that saw AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Louisiana 5G Trial Cities

New Orleans 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: New Orleans was one of the cities that saw AT&T’s initial 5G network launch in late 2018. The network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Massachusetts 5G Trial Cities

Boston 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon will launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in March that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Boston by the end of 2019.

Brockton 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Trial network went live in 2017
More: Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Brockton in 2017, but hasn’t yet said when it will launch commercial 5G services in the city.

Michigan 5G Trial Cities

Ann Arbor 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Trial network went live in 2017
More: Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Ann Arbor in 2017, but hasn’t yet said when it will launch commercial 5G services in the city.

Detroit 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in March that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Detroit by the end of 2019.

Kalamazoo 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Trial network live
More: AT&T began is 5G trial in Kalamazoo in 2018. The company has yet to announce when it will launch commercial services in the area.

Minnesota 5G Trial Cities

Minneapolis 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Network is live
More: Minneapolis was the second major city where Verizon turned on commercial 5G services as part of its initial launch in April. 5G is available downtown and in areas such as US Bank Stadium. Verizon is now selling Samsung S10 5G phones that can access the network.

Missouri 5G Trial Cities

Kansas City 5G Trials

Provider(s): Sprint; Verizon
Status: Sprint’s network is live; Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Sprint launched 5G services in Kansas City at the end of May, when it began selling 5G phones from LG and HTC.

Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Kansas City by the end of 2019

Nevada 5G Trial Cities

Las Vegas 5G Trials

Provider(s): T-Mobile
Status: Network not live
More: Las Vegas was part of T-Mobile’s planned deployment of 5G networks late last year. T-Mobile has said it will not begin offering commercial services until 5G-capable smartphones become available in 2019, and has not offered any updates.

New Jersey 5G Trial Cities

Bernardsville 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Trial network went live in 2017
More: Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Bernardsville in 2017.

New York 5G Trial Cities

New York City 5G Trials

Provider(s): T-Mobile, Sprint
Status: T-Mobile’s network is not live; Sprint to launch service in 1H2019
More: New York City was part of T-Mobile’s planned deployment of 5G networks late last year. T-Mobile has said it will not begin offering commercial services until 5G-capable smartphones become available in 2019, and has not offered any updates.

Sprint announced in February that it would launch 5G services in New York City in the first half of 2019

North Carolina 5G Trial Cities

Charlotte, NC 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T, Verizon
Status: AT&T’s network is live; Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Charlotte was one of the cities that saw AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Verizon announced in March that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Charlotte by the end of 2019

Raleigh 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: Raleigh was also part of AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. The network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot. AT&T has not yet begun selling 5G-capable phones.

Oklahoma 5G Trial Cities

Oklahoma City 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: Oklahoma City was one of the cities that saw AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Ohio 5G Trial Cities

Cincinnati 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Cincinnati by the end of 2019.

Cleveland 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Cleveland by the end of 2019.

Columbus 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Columbus by the end of 2019.

Rhode Island 5G Trial Cities

Providence 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Providence by the end of 2019.

Tennessee 5G Trial Cities

Nashville 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: Nashville was one of the cities that saw AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Memphis 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon to launch service by the end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Memphis by the end of 2019.

Texas 5G Trial Cities

Austin 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: Austin was one of the cities that saw AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot, at least until AT&T begins selling 5G-capable phones.

Dallas 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon 5G Trials
Status: Sprint & AT&T’s networks are live; T-Mobile’s network is not live; Verizon launched a trial network in 2017, will launch service by end of 2019
More: Dallas was one of the first markets where AT&T rolled out 5G services late last year. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot. AT&T has not yet begun selling 5G-capable phones.

The city was also part of T-Mobile’s planned deployment of 5G networks late last year. T-Mobile has said it will not begin offering commercial services until 5G-capable smartphones become available in 2019, and has not offered any updates.

Sprint launched 5G services in Dallas at the end of May, when it will began selling 5G phones from LG and HTC.

Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Dallas in 2017. It later announced in April 2019 that it would turn on 5G services in Dallas by the end of the year

Houston 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T, Sprint, Verizon
Status: AT&T’s network is live; Sprint to launch service in 1H2019; Verizon launched trial network in 2017, will launch services by the end of 2019
More: Houston was part of the initial batch of cities where AT&T rolled out 5G services late last year. However, the network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot. AT&T has not begun selling 5G-capable phones.

Sprint announced in February that it would launch 5G services in Houston in the first half of 2019

Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Houston in 2017, and announced in April 2019 that it would turn on 5G services in Houston by the end of the year

San Antonio 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: San Antonio was also part of the initial batch of cities where AT&T rolled out 5G services late last year. The network is currently only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot. AT&T has not yet begun selling 5G-capable phones.

Waco 5G Trials

Provider(s): AT&T
Status: Network is live
More: Waco was also part of AT&T’s initial 5G network launch late last year. The network is only accessible via a Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot. AT&T has not yet begun selling 5G-capable phones.

Utah 5G Trial Cities

Salt Lake City 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Verizon to launch service by end of 2019
More: Verizon announced in April that it would turn on 5G services in parts of Salt Lake City by the end of 2019.

Washington 5G Trial Cities

Seattle 5G Trials

Provider(s): Verizon
Status: Trial network went live in 2017
More: Verizon launched a pre-commercial 5G trial in Seattle in 2017, but hasn’t yet said when it will launch commercial 5G services in the city.