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VorpalWayyesterday at 5:27 PM5 repliesview on HN

5G seems pretty widly available here in Sweden in my experience, even in the countryside. Not that the speeds are actually better than 4G, but the indicator say 5G as I'm writing this in a tent in the middle of nowhere. :)

I guess other countries are further behind?


Replies

tvinkyesterday at 5:34 PM

On raw coverage of 5g, only a few much denser countries are better. You live in basically the best 4g and 5g covered, sparsely populated country on earth :) most countries are not just further behind.

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jruohonenyesterday at 5:31 PM

> I guess other countries are further behind?

Yes, and even in Europe. The demand-led need was badly misunderstood or anticipated in my opinion as operators were hesitant to invest (and some big ones still are). In this sense, 7G is a pipe dream (but of course worth researching as such).

kergonathyesterday at 5:45 PM

Lucky you. On some parts of my commute, in an urban area of 10M people, I am happy if I get some 3G.

wolvoleoyesterday at 6:02 PM

Don't just look at the indicator on your phone though. Providers are free to scheme with those. Some honestly show the icon when you are on 5G. Others use the option of showing it when you are on 4G (not even 5G NSA) but the network offers 5G on the cell.

The marketing guys got involved with this indicator and completely ruined its trustworthiness.

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hn_throwaway_99yesterday at 5:35 PM

With 5G in particular I think it's important that people talk about which specific technologies they're referring to.

In the US at least, low-band or extended range 5G is widely available and has been for some time (and I'm talking about the "real" 5G low-band, not the BS marketing speak AT&T used for a while). Mid and high band 5G, or 5G ultra capacity, is much less available but if course it only really makes sense in dense cities.

I'm surprised that low band 5G isn't widely available in most 1st world countries, as again it's been here in the US for many years now.