Verizon Announces 5G Service For Houston

HOUSTON, TX -- Brace yourself Houston. The wave of 5G broadband technology is coming to town.

Verizon officials joined with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Tuesday to announce that Houston will become the third U.S. city to incorporate its four-market 5G deployment plan, starting in 2019.

"As technology becomes even more central to the economy of this region, we at Verizon look forward to being very close partners with Houston, and to keep our communications network safe and strong," said Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam.

Verizon began testing 5G capabilities at a site on Grant Road near State Highway 249 earlier this year and found that 5G speeds were much faster than what users might normally experience with 4G speeds.

The faster speeds will not only provide better internet and phone service to homes and businesses, but could enhance the functionality of entire cities.

The enhanced 5G network could improve the way cities monitor vital services.

"The data helps city managers and planners better understand how to provide facilities for the citizens, which will then improve or reduce commute times and CO2 emissions," David Tucker, Verizon product director for traffic management/data services said in a statement.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he expects 5G will be a game-changer for Houston that will usher in a new wave of progress and innovation.

"One thing in this city we know, is we know how to make things happen," Turner said. "That's what this city is all about."

The first areas of the city that could see the 5G technology upgrades are communities that have been designated as under-resourced through Turner’s Complete Communities program.

Those under-resourced communities include:

• Acres Home
• Gulfton
• Second Ward
• Third Ward
• Near Northside

"Verizon's announcement today is more proof that we can turn vision into reality," Turner said.

Verizon plans to begin installing the equipment by the end of 2018, officials said.

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Image: David Allen/Patch

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