You probably already know that 5G is an extensively made use of acronym for a variation of mobile network standards. (Likewise, that it’s the most existing requirement in use.) That “G” slapped next to the number suggests “generation.” It’s not a referral to the download or upload rates you jump on your cell phone.
You additionally might have currently seen the ads concerning Comcast’s brand-new 10G Xfinity network burying the airwaves and various other systems. And given that the Xfinity web site does not actually clarify what “10G” means, you might assume that the business’s home web solution is a much faster version of 5G. Even if you dig about and come across Comcast’s corporate website regarding 10G, its reference to “multi-gig speeds” will not necessarily resolve your first impact.
That’s most likely what Comcast’s marketing team desires from co-opting cable-industry jargon developed in 2019, long after the identifying of mobile networks started. Yet don’t let them perplex you. “10G” is a referral to 10Gbps, or the maximum speed the Xfinity broadband network is capable of. You read that right: It has nothing to do with cellular network terminology (like 5G) whatsoever, and Comcast’s service is for home internet, not mobile. It’s deeply misleading.
In fact, Xfinity’s 10G network is practically slower than 5G. Peak academic throughput on an uncongested 5G network offers up to 20Gbps download and 10Gbps upload. Xfinity caps out at 10Gbps down and up.
For access to faster upload rates, Comcast’s $30/mo xFi Total add-on is presently required.
Comcast
The funny component is, Comcast must win the real-world battle below. Almost talking, your phone on a 5G network will suffer from slowdowns due to blockage and signal strength, making wire-based Xfinity connections likely quicker. Existing reports put top 5G download speeds between 3Gbps to 10Gbps in the wild.
But Comcast is tooting its own horn prior to its multi-gig network has become extensive. A lot of clients can get simply 1Gbps down as the best plan, with an absurdly asymmetrical upload rate of 35Mbps (yes, megabits). And while faster uploads are gradually presenting to various locations, accessibility is just readily available when you opt into the business’s $30/month xFi Total add-on, that includes unlimited information and various other additionals. Oof.
Update, October 2023: Ends up that the National Advertising Department, the company formed by the advertisement sector to self-regulate reality in advertising and marketing, agrees that Comcast’s 10G project is deceiving. As spotted by Ars Technica, the NAD has issued a press release suggesting that Comcast either quit claiming 10G or be more clear that the company is still working toward giving such rates. This rebuke was released after T-Mobile filed a challenge. In the very same blog post, the org has actually also urged Comcast to make clear that internet service is unavailable throughout power interruptions.
Lengthy story short, take Comcast’s flaunts concerning its new network with a huge grain of salt. Many individuals will most likely think a 10G network is much better than a 5G network, but it’s simply not the instance– comparing the two is like matching apples against oranges. On the other hand, AT&T’s “gigillionaire” advertising campaign may be difficult to sit through, yet at least the language isn’t challenging to comprehend.
Editor’s note: This tale was initially released on March 20, 2023, and updated on October 23, 2023 with details about the NAD’s require Comcast to stop or change making use of 10G in its ads.
