Just recently, you may have noticed that you’re phone has a “5G UC” sign in the status bar. What does it mean? Is there an extra data plan that comes with it? Well, this guide will show you what “5G UC” means on an iOS or Android phone.
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What is 5G UC?
“5G Ultra Capacity” is a term used to describe the 5G network that only T-Mobile customers can get. It’s accessible by Apple iPhone 12, iPhone 13 and some Android phones.
When you see a 5G Ultra Capacity sign on your phone, it means you’re connected to a 5Gs ultra-capacity network. T-Mobile started to deploy this in iPhones in mid September 2021.
Types of 5G Network
While the two networks are both designed for fast and reliable mobile broadband technology, it’s important to know what one is best suited for. 5G Ultra Capacity is the fastest network and will be faster than 4G LTE networks. The 5G Extended Range isn’t quite up there but ranges from as quick as 4G MAX-LTE networks to a bit slower or equal to 4G LTE network speeds.
At first 5G UC was only available on iPhone but now some android devices has also started showing 5G UC. When you’re connected to the 5G UC network, you’ll have access to the fastest speeds of any wireless connection. When connected to the 5G Extended Range network, it’ll be a little more difficult for you to connect but will allow for faster speeds.
Which Phones Support 5G UC On T-Mobile’s Network?
Despite the growing present of 5G, there are still only a few devices that support it. Among the iPhone models, T-Mobile lists these compatible devices: the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone SE 3 series and more. Some of these are at least supported by the previous power supply but others require newer models.
There are now a number of different Android phones in the market that support 5G, including the Samsung Galaxy S22 series which includes the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra. There’s also the older Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, as well as some other newer models like the Galaxy A52 5G and A13 5G, among many others.
5G UC, 5G UW, And 5G+: What’s The Difference?
mmWave is the fastest type of 5G currently available. It has relatively few limitations, but it also doesn’t have a wide range of locations where it can be found.
mmWave uses a much higher frequency than previous cellular networks and allows for blazing-fast connections. Even though it’s limited to providing fast data on select areas, it can provide faster networks than competing technologies.
Low-band 5G networks offer the foundations for much of what you’re going to experience with 5G as a whole. While they provide a better range and enhanced penetrability inside buildings, etc., they also tend to provide slower speeds than C-band networks or mmWave.
If you’re curious about 5G, Verizon’s millimeter-wave and C-band networks will offer the fastest data connection you can get. “5G UW” or ‘Ultra Wideband’ works in a similar way as T-Mobile’s ‘5G UC.’
They’re all referring to the fastest 5G connection offered by the carrier. However, in specific devices that specifically advertise 5G ULWi technology, it is denoted by “5G UWB.” 5G UWB works with different frequencies than wireless-N, which would be easily identifiable.
Is 5G UC faster than regular 5G?
T-Mobile is indeed working on faster 5G speeds. The company’s Extended Range 5G XR is specifically designed to cover large locations, like 4G did. In other words, it doesn’t prioritize speed as heavily as the company’s standard 5G network does.
The big downside to 5G UC Internet is that it’s not in every area. It can be difficult to find due to the high costs associated with infrastructure and limited range.
Although your smartphone may have a 5G UC logo on its screen, the logo only indicates which band of 5G the phone is capable of receiving. There are hundreds of bands available, so if you don’t have a device that supports mmWave 5G, you still get it via our 3.5GHz+ 2×2 MIMO platform and up to mid-band networks.
Are There Any Downsides To 5g?
Some of the concerns with 5G are related to security. However, there are also significant technological limitations that need to be taken into account. While some of these are only possible with widespread technology utilization, Kaspersky believes the following poses a problem for any 5G technology.
Increased Pressure On Monitoring
5G networks are able to handle more traffic, which means more users and greater user experience—but that comes with a big price. Each new user creates risk, so it’s not easy to mitigate that after a set number of users. More volume and speed mean more data sharing in the digital network, which can bring potential threats.
No Comprehensive Security Standards
Smart devices have a lot of security vulnerabilities, which means these devices are vulnerable to hacking. With more and more devices connected to the same network, these devices create risks. Your speaker, headphones, and even fridge are now points of weakness.
More Points Of Entry For Hackers
Cyber-security is a constant battle, and that’s something that the decentralized peer-to-peer internet will have to contend with. As more data is passed through these nodes, there are more entry points for hackers to infiltrate. The network needs rigorous monitoring to protect every node and keep dangers from spreading throughout the entire enterprise.
Conclusion
Everyone’s talking about 5G, and that means it’s going to have a major impact on the online world. For most people, 5G is faster and has less latency, which means less frustration. With rural areas and places still far away from offering 5G speeds, most people will still experience 4G speeds on their existing devices.
Buying a compatible device to use with 5G will provide you with the fast speeds you need when traveling; this is good for now. It also won’t require you to upgrade your phone when the network catches up.
