X

Verizon's 5G home networks will run on Samsung routers

The company's fixed wireless 5G service, slated to hit Sacramento and up to four other US cities before the end of 2018, will use Samsung hardware.

John Falcone Senior Editorial Director, Shopping
John P. Falcone is the senior director of commerce content at CNET, where he coordinates coverage of the site's buying recommendations alongside the CNET Advice team (where he previously headed the consumer electronics reviews section). He's been a CNET editor since 2003.
Expertise Over 20 years experience in electronics and gadget reviews and analysis, and consumer shopping advice Credentials
  • Self-taught tinkerer, informal IT and gadget consultant to friends and family (with several self-built gaming PCs under his belt)
John Falcone
fd-5gpromowithwave.jpg
Kelly Nelson/CNET

Samsung routers will power Verizon's 5G fixed wireless service when it arrives in homes later this year.

The Korean electronics giant announced on Wednesday that Verizon will use Samsung hardware -- including home routers and "5G Radio Access Units" -- when it rolls out its already announced 5G wireless network in up to five cities before the end of 2018. So far, only Sacramento has been confirmed as one of the locations.

"Together with Verizon, we have explored the vast potential of 5G through market trials across the US," Mark Louison, a senior vice president at Samsung Electronics America, said in a statement. "At the same time, Samsung applied lessons learned from these real-world trials to ensure that our complete end-to-end 5G portfolio is ready for commercial service."

5G networks promise to deliver fiber-level speed and low latency as new wireless networks are deployed. So-called "fixed wireless" installations in homes will be the first to roll out because they won't suffer from the battery limitations of mobile devices.

CES 2018 is where you'll start caring about 5G: The world's biggest consumer electronics show will shine a light on the next-gen wireless technology that will shape the coming decade.

Full coverage of CES 2018CNET's comprehensive reporting of tech's biggest show.