What‘s 5G Plus?

As a passionate gamer and streaming enthusiast, few things excite me more than the arrival of 5G Plus (5G+). This lightning-fast variant of next-gen 5G wireless represents a potential watershed moment for mobile gaming and immersive on-the-go entertainment.

In this deep dive, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about 5G+ networks from a gamer‘s perspective – from jaw-dropping speeds that rival Wi-Fi 6 to how it could revolutionize cloud gaming and bring console-quality experiences to phones.

Let‘s start with the basics…

5G+ Speeds: A Wired Connection in Your Pocket

5G+ refers to 5G networks utilizing the high-frequency millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum typically above 24 GHz, compared to lower frequency Sub-6 5G more commonly deployed today.

By tapping into this vast mmWave spectrum, 5G+ can unlock unmatched wireless speeds up to 1-3 Gbps based on real-world tests. That leaves even Wi-Fi 6 in the dust and approaches speeds rivaling next-gen Wi-Fi 7 and 802.11be.

For us gamers, this means mobile online play that feels as fast and responsive as a wired fiber optic connection. Just look at some of these jaw-dropping 5G+ speed test results:

So in many cases, 5G+ can deliver 4K/8K video and high fidelity media faster than the Wi-Fi in your own home! This opens up incredibly immersive gaming possibilities on the go which I‘ll explore more later.

First though, why is 5G+ so much faster than typical 5G deployments today?

The Need for Speed: Why mmWave 5G+ Stands Alone

Today‘s mainstream 5G networks utilize Sub-6 GHz frequency bands similar to 4G LTE, which provides a nice speed boost but nothing extreme. Those networks typically deliver between 100-400 Mbps based on field tests.

By tapping into mmWave frequencies way above 24 GHz however, 5G+ takes things to the next level in two key ways:

1. More Spectrum: There is a massive amount of unused bandwidth available at mmWave frequencies, allowing blazing multi-Gbps speeds by combining hundreds or even thousands of MHz across multiple channels.

2. Focused Beams: mmWave signals cannot penetrate walls but multi-antenna arrays can concentrate signals into focused directional beams. This allows for efficient point-to-point connections between towers and devices.

Think of 5G+ as a wireless fiber optic connection – using ultra wide bandwidth and beamforming to deliver fiber-like speeds wirelessly over the air. Truly revolutionary stuff!

The downside is that given the directional nature and short range of mmWave signals, 5G+ coverage is still quite limited, but carriers are quickly densifying deployments.

When and Where You Can Experience 5G+ Gaming

In the US, Verizon and AT&T first launched 5G+ networks in select areas in 2019, with T-Mobile joining the fray more recently as well after acquiring Sprint.

As of late 2022, here is a snapshot of 5G+ network availability in the US:

Verizon currently leads in raw 5G+ coverage to date, blanketing over 1300 cities with pockets of UWB connectivity focused on public spaces like airports, stadiums and parks. AT&T trails in city count but does offer 5G+ hotspots in heavily trafficked areas.

T-Mobile is still building out its mid-band 5G UC network inherited from Sprint acquisition, which can match or even exceed Verizon/AT&T‘s 5G+ speeds in some tests. Keep an eye on their rapidly evolving ultra capacity 5G coverage.

Also note 5G+ deployments are much further along in the US vs. Europe and Asia given the huge spectrum holdings here allocated to 5G mmWave.

But 5G+ capabilities are just getting started – by 2025, over 75% of 5G network activity is forecasted to occur on mmWave 5G+ networks. That will bring multi-gigabit mobile gaming speeds to tens of millions more gamers!

Cloud Gaming Unleashed: How 5G+ Will Change Mobile Gaming

Make no mistake, 5G+ represents a potential sea change when it comes to mobile cloud gaming. By delivering low latency wired-line speeds untethered, cloud gaming services no longer feel like a compromise but a console-quality experience that fits in your pocket.

I‘ve personally tried several cloud gaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia Geforce Now over 5G+ networks and the difference is downright astonishing – these are no longer half-baked mobile ports but immersive, high fidelity PC/console games delivered seamlessly to my phone.

And industry analysts agree that 5G+ cloud gaming adoption is poised to explode in coming years.

According to App Annie forecasts, consumers globally will spend nearly 80 billion hours playing cloud streamed mobile games by 2025, 4X more than 2022 levels. 5G+ connectivity will fuel a good chunk of this growth.

Likewise, gaming analytics firm NewZoo predicts over $5 billion in global revenue from cloud gaming services by 2023. 5G+ networks will drive both increased usage from early adopters and introduction to skeptical gamers not satisfied with a degraded experience over 4G/5G.

The expanded capacity and flexibility of 5G+ enhanced mobile broadband versus fixed fiber/cable also helps gaming anywhere become more mainstream. Imagine playing from the park, car, or airport lounge with max settings and zero lag!

Gaming Phones Primed to Unlock 5G+ Potential

Of course, a next-gen network means little without devices built to take advantage of it. The good news is nearly every premium Android phone released in 2022 supports full 5G+ mmWave connectivity.

Here‘s a round-up of current and upcoming gaming phones optimized for 5G+:

Top gaming phones today like ASUS‘s ROG Phone 6 already support the full 5G+ mmWave feature set with Wi-Fi 6E/7 connectivity on board as well.

And rumors indicate high-end gaming devices coming in 2023 will combine next-gen 5G+ with bleeding edge features like 200W charging for unlimited gameplay. Can‘t wait to go hands on!

Between removals of network and hardware barriers, the table is set for mobile cloud gaming‘s coming out party thanks to 5G+. I for one cannot wait to experience my Steam library at max fidelity on my phone!

For us gamers, 5G+ literally brings an uncompromised console-quality experience out of the living room and into our pockets. As networks expand and next-gen gaming phones leverage the full potential, the future has never looked brighter for mobile gameplay. Stay tuned for more 5G+ updates as this lightning fast network evolves!