Verizon 5G Service Launching in Sacramento on Oct. 1
Verizon announced Tuesday that its high-speed 5G wireless service will launch in Sacramento on Oct. 1, the result of a public-private partnership that will expand digital access for underserved communities and boost the city’s efforts to establish itself as a center for autonomous vehicle testing.
The deployment will deliver super high-speed internet to Sacramento homes that previously was only available to businesses. The initial launch will be limited to portions of Sacramento, with widespread deployment expected in early 2019.
“This is a one-of-a-kind partnership to upgrade our city’s infrastructure to support the newest technology and an economy based on that technology,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “This is about creating good jobs for residents of all of our neighborhoods and ensuring that Sacramento is on the forefront of building new industries.”
Verizon’s 5G service will initially launch in these Sacramento neighborhoods.
As part of the partnership, Mayor Steinberg noted, Verizon is currently funding paid internships for 11 high school students placed in companies throughout Sacramento.
Sacramento is one of four cities where Verizon is launching 5G service for homes; the others are Houston, Indianapolis and Los Angeles. Consumers can visit FirstOn5G.com starting Thursday to learn more and place orders.
Louis Stewart, the City’s Chief Innovation Officer, said the arrival of 5G technology will make Sacramento a more attractive place to test driverless vehicle technology by speeding communication between the cars and backup remote operators. Phantom Auto, based in Mountain View, recently announced that it would test remotely operated cars on Sacramento streets.
Verizon’s 5G system will run on small-scale antenna cells mounted on Sacramento city or utility poles.
Mayor Darrell Steinberg announces Verizon deal in 2017.
