We all have cell phones today. Do you know anyone who doesn’t? Doubt it.
I was an early adopter of a cell phone. It cost me $1,800 for a “bag phone.” It was portable, weighed 8 pounds, and plugged into my cigarette lighter in my car. The battery lasted maybe two hours at most, and the analog connection wasn’t that reliable. It cost 35 cents a minute.
No, I didn’t have texting or the Internet since this was the 1980s.
The company I worked for at the time didn’t even have a policy around the use of cell phones. They did have a reimbursement plan for making long-distance phone calls from your personal landline. So, I submitted my phone bills with my expense reports highlighting the business calls. Corporate didn’t know what to do, but eventually all the salespeople saw what I was doing and jumped on board.
It’s amazing how far we’ve come with technology. No one can live without their phone (some may try). They’re supercomputers in our pockets now and do so much more than just make phone calls. In fact, data usage such as texting, internet access, and apps are the primary uses of a smartphone today. Not so many phone calls anymore. What a strange transition.
Understanding the Evolution of Wireless Technology
The evolution from analog to 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, and now 5G is innovation and engineering at its best.
And the advancements aren’t stopping there. 6G is already in development and is expected to begin testing sometime around 2030.
As wireless technology continues to evolve, so do the possibilities for businesses that rely on fast, reliable connectivity.
How Does 5G Compare to Cable Internet?
Let’s compare the power of the current internet connections available today.
Fiber is still the gold standard. It’s the fastest and most reliable service available. In fact, fiber is needed to connect every cell tower that delivers 4G and 5G services.
What’s fascinating is that modern 5G is now faster and more capable than many traditional Cable or DSL services. While cable remains common, it can suffer from neighborhood congestion during peak usage times.
| Category | Cable | 5G |
| Speed | Good | Similar or better |
| Upload Speeds | Often limited | Sometimes better |
| Congestion | Common | Variable |
| Mobility | None | Excellent |
In many markets, 5G home internet is becoming a serious competitor to cable providers. Ultra 5G and emerging 5.5G services are already rolling out in metropolitan areas.
Why Fiber and 5G Work Better Together
Rather than replacing fiber, 5G is becoming a valuable complement to it.
Did you know Verizon purchased Frontier Fiber and is aggressively expanding fiber infrastructure?
What’s happening is that fiber becomes the primary connection, while 5G serves as a secondary or backup connection for your business. This combination provides both performance and resilience, helping organizations stay connected even when their primary internet service experiences an outage.
The Business Benefits of 5G Connectivity
5G technology continues to improve and offers significant advantages for businesses.
Expected improvements before the end of the decade include:
- Better uplink performance
- AI integration
- Improved positioning and location services
- Greater energy efficiency
For businesses, these advancements mean faster communications, improved mobility, greater reliability, and new opportunities for innovation.
Replacing Legacy Phone Lines with 4G and 5G
Many organizations still rely on traditional analog phone lines for critical systems such as:
- Alarm systems
- Elevators
- Door access systems
- Credit card terminals
- Gas station payment systems
These aging services can often be replaced with Verizon Cellular 4G/5G connections for as little as $15 per month.
The savings can be substantial compared to traditional telephone or cable-based services, while providing a more modern and reliable connectivity solution.
Is 5G Right for Your Business?
The answer depends on your connectivity needs.
For businesses looking for:
- Reliable backup internet
- Rapid deployment
- Mobile connectivity
- Lower telecommunications costs
5G is becoming an increasingly attractive option.
In rural areas where cable, fiber, or reliable cellular service may not be available, low-orbit satellite solutions such as Starlink can also provide an affordable and effective alternative.
How Just Solutions Can Help
Just Solutions is now a Verizon Connectivity Partner and offers Verizon 5G data services to our customers.
We’ll provide the 5G router and connect it directly to your firewall, giving your business a reliable backup connection for your primary internet service.
Whether you’re looking to improve business continuity, reduce telecom costs, replace legacy phone lines, or modernize your connectivity strategy, our team can help.
To learn more about how Just Solutions can support your business, email us at [email protected] or call 585-425-3420.