News and Events
5G Home Internet vs. Midco Internet
- Date: 12/27/24
Can 5G home internet meet your needs for streaming, gaming, remote work and more?
What matters most when you’re comparing internet options? Do you look for the latest tech? The lowest price? Or do you just want a reliable service that works when you need it to?
5G home internet is gaining popularity, as it uses the latest cellular infrastructure and can be bundled with cell phone service. But before you trust 5G to power your streaming, gaming, or remote work, make sure it can keep up. Overall, 5G home internet just doesn’t match the speed, reliability, or consistency of Midco.
Many people think the "G" in 5G stands for gigabits per second, referring to speed. It actually stands for “generation” — 5G is the fifth-generation mobile network, primarily designed for cell phone service. 5G home internet can’t realistically reach speeds close to 5 gigabits per second, but Midco can. Our internet consistently delivers multi-gigabit-level speeds over our secure fiber network.
5G providers often offer service packages with speed “ranges” due to the unpredictable nature of the service, which brings us to another Midco connection advantage — consistency.
When too many people in an area are trying to use a 5G network simultaneously, it causes congestion and fluctuating speeds — not the experience you want when trying to download files for work, enjoy family movie night, or play your favorite online game.
5G service quality and reliability also heavily depend on your location — whether it has 5G coverage and what nearby obstacles might interrupt connections. Unlike 5G, Midco fiber internet isn’t affected by buildings, trees, normal weather conditions, or other environmental factors, which makes its performance far more consistent.
Get connections you can count on — connect with Midco. We’re continually enhancing our speeds, infrastructure, and overall reliability to consistently meet your needs today and in the future. Learn more about Midco’s internet services at Midco dot com.
Compare your internet options before committing. Learn the differences between 5G home internet and Midco internet so you know what you’re getting.
5G Home Internet vs. Midco Internet
What’s the right choice for you?
When comparing internet service options for your home, you have plenty to consider – speed, price, reliability and more. Overall, you want service that works when you need it to, whether you’re taking video calls in your home office or online gaming with your friends.
5G home internet is one internet service grabbing attention lately, but before you choose 5G for your home internet, is it really ready to meet your needs?
What is 5G?
5G = Fifth-generation mobile network
- 5G service runs on the latest infrastructure primarily designed for cell phone service.
5G ≠ 5 gigabits per second (Gbps) of speed
- While it’s a common misconception that 5G refers to speed, 5G home interest can’t realistically reach speeds of 5 Gbps.
5G vs. Midco
- 5G home internet just doesn’t match the speed, reliability or consistency of Midco’s fiber network.
| 5G Home Internet | Midco |
| Generally slower, with an average of 100 Mbps | Faster overall, with speeds up to 5,000 Mbps |
| Packages are often sold as a range of speeds due to inconsistent service – speed not guaranteed | More consistent speed powered by our owned, operated and MEF-certified network |
| Can be affected by obstacles like buildings and trees | Fiber performance is not impacted by obstacles like buildings and trees |
| Higher latency, which can cause buffering and lag for activities like gaming, streaming and video calls | Lower latency, more uninterrupted online experiences |
| Prone to congestion issues, slowing speeds when many people in an area are attempting to use their service | Dedicated lines to your home reduce the impact of congestion |
| 5G home internet uses infrastructure primarily designed for cell phone service | Offered as a distinct service running on fiber infrastructure purpose-built for home and business internet |
| Uses mobile infrastructure, a historic target for cyberattacks | Physical cables and robust protocols for security |
Get connections you can count on – connect with Midco.
We’re continually enhancing our speeds. Infrastructure and overall reliability to consistently meet your needs today and in the future.
Services may not be available in all areas, and some restrictions apply. Visit Midco.com/Shop to check serviceability, or contact us at Midco.com/Contact.
1 Customer is responsible for modem purchase or lease required for Midco internet. Modem lease price is $9 for standard modem or $11 for Midco Wi-Fi. Any non-Midco provided modem must have DOCSIS 3.1 technology. An approved modem list can be found at Midco.com/Modems. Actual internet speeds may vary depending on your computer or mobile device’s capacity, the number of devices accessing the internet at once and web traffic. Speeds may also be impacted by third-party equipment (such as your computer or router). Midco Gig Internet is not available in all areas.
