# Cox Internet vs. 5G home internet ## Cox Internet delivers faster speeds than 5G home internet With 5G home internet, a cell signal is trying to navigate around buildings, trees and windows to power cell phones and other devices. With Cox, you get the speed you need via a wired-in service that’s reliable for you. ## How Cox Internet compares to 5G home internet From offering reliable speeds 24/7 to powering all of your home’s connected devices and more, Cox Internet delivers for you all day. ### Features & Benefits: Cox vs. 5G Home Internet | Feature | Cox | T-Mobile | AT&T | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Fast Multi GIG speeds available¹ | Yes | No | No | | Separate network for internet customers at home | Yes | No | No | | Ability to choose your internet speed tier | Yes | No | No | | Automatic software updates with option to upgrade equipment every 3 years² | Yes | No | No | | Internet speeds don’t slow down, even after exceeding monthly data usage³ | Yes | No | Yes | ¹ 2 Gbps download speeds. In Cox serviceable areas only. Speeds vary and are not guaranteed. ² Requires Cox Panoramic Wifi Gateway. ³ T-Mobile 5G Home Internet customers that exceed 1.2 TB of data in a billing cycle are prioritized last on the network, as disclosed by T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Policies page. --- **Did you know?** Cox 2 GIG download speeds are up to 7 times faster than T-Mobile 5G Home Internet. --- ## Cox Internet: The right solution for access, speed and reliability Cox Internet offers a range of fast, reliable speed tiers so you can choose the speed that’s right for your home. With 5G home internet, there are no defined speed tiers. This means 5G home internet customers can experience a range of speeds depending on network congestion and time of day. T-Mobile Home Internet customers can expect to see typical download speeds between 133 – 415 Mbps, and AT&T Internet Air customers may experience typical download speeds between 90 Mbps and 300 Mbps. **Cox Internet is the faster option because it can deliver download speeds of up to 2 Gbps (2,000 Mbps) in select areas, with availability of 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) everywhere we serve.** - **Fiber-powered network** — Cox uses in-ground wiring to deliver a more stable internet connection with faster speeds than 5G home internet providers. - **Wall-to-wall coverage** — Cox’s fast, reliable wired-in internet can reach every corner of your home with our Panoramic Wifi service, featuring our gateway and room pods. - **Power more devices** — Our fast speeds also mean customers can power more connected devices in the home than with the speeds experienced from 5G home internet service. - **Rated for reliability** — Cox has faster speeds than 5G home internet. --- ## Cox Internet service ### Cox Internet plans starting at $30/mo for qualifying customers Experience fast, reliable speeds on our fiber-powered network. Explore our affordable and reliable internet services designed to keep you connected to the activities you love. *Cox Internet is powered by fiber and connected to the premises via coaxial cable.* [Shop internet plans](https://www.cox.com/residential/internet.html) --- ## What is 5G home internet? 5G home internet uses nearby cell towers to send a signal to the internet in your home, and that cell signal powers your home internet service. Because 5G Home Internet providers like T-Mobile rely on their cellular network to also provide this home internet service, they prioritize cell users over home internet users on their network to manage network traffic and congestion. [Learn more](https://www.cox.com/residential/internet/cox-internet-vs-5g-home-internet.html#faqs) --- Factors that can influence the speed and reliability of 5G home internet service * Distance between the cell tower and the home * Number of users connected to the cell tower during peak times * Any cluster or existence of trees in the area * Current weather patterns * How many windows the home has * Any buildings or nearby homes, materials like concrete and metal * Number of devices needing simultaneous internet access within the home * Placement of the modem, router, or internet gateway in the home * 5G Network gives priority to cell phone users over Fixed Wireless users --- ## 5G Home Internet FAQs ### Your questions answered ### What is 5G? 5G stands for "fifth generation," the most recent version of cellular/mobile technology. Although 5G is a cellular/mobile technology, it can also be used to deliver internet service to a home. The two types of 5G services: - Traditional mobile service - Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) – also referred to as "5G home internet" 5G vs. 5 Gbps and 5 GHz: It’s important to note that 5G is different than 5 Gbps (5 gigabits per second, which is an internet speed) and 5 GHz (a setting you might see on your wifi router). ### What is 5G home internet? 5G home internet uses nearby cell towers/mobile hubs to send a signal to the modem, router or gateway in your home. That cell signal is what powers a customer’s 5G Home Internet service. The speed and reliability of 5G Home Internet can be unpredictable and influenced by several factors, like: 1. The distance between the cell tower and the home 2. The number of users connected to the cell tower in the area, especially during peak times (i.e. when mobile/internet users are on connected devices between 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.) 3. Trees 4. Weather 5. Windows 6. Buildings, nearby homes, materials like concrete and metal 7. The number of devices needing simultaneous internet access within the home 8. Placement of the modem, router, or internet gateway in the home ### Do 5G home internet providers engage in network prioritization (putting mobile users before home internet users)? Because 5G Home Internet providers like T-Mobile rely on their cellular network to also provide their 5G Home Internet services, they prioritize users on their network to manage network traffic and congestion. T-Mobile acknowledges that they prioritize customers of their Mobile plans over customers of their Home Internet plans, and those Home Internet customers "may notice reduced speeds in comparison to customers with a higher priority during network congestion." ### 5G home internet vs. cable: What’s the difference? Our industry is changing rapidly — so much so that it can be hard to keep up with the terminology. The term cable, for example, has a couple of meanings. First, cable refers to the subscription-based programming service that delivers broadcast network programming to your television. Secondly, cable can refer to hardware that is used to deliver a ‘wired-in’ internet connection directly to a business, home or residence — such as ethernet cable and/or coaxial cable. The term 5G home internet, on the other hand, refers to a cellular-based home internet connection. With 5G home internet, which is sometimes referred to as "home internet" by 5G home internet providers, a home internet connection relies on a cellular tower to send a signal into a home or residence. The strength of that signal can be influenced by a number of factors, including but not limited to the number of users reliant on it and the physical obstacles the cell signal must travel around, from buildings to trees and other obstacles. ### What is home internet? Some internet service providers (ISPs), such as T-Mobile, are talking about 5G home internet, or home internet powered by a cellular signal, when they make references to the term "home internet." Cox refers to home internet as your internet connection at home. Cox’s wired-in service is faster and more reliable than 5G home internet, with download speeds that are twice as fast during peak usage hours, according to industry authority Ookla. ### Does Cox offer 5G home internet? No. Cox offers a wired-in home internet connection that is faster and more reliable than 5G home internet connections, which are dependent on a cellular signal. ### What do I need to know about home internet speeds? There are two things that every home internet user should know about internet speeds. First, internet speeds can vary by internet service provider (ISP), product offering (for example, wired-in internet service or cellular-based home internet service), and geographic location. Second, there are a few key factors that influence what you experience as your internet speed, such as: - Download speed. The speed at which an internet connection gets to your device is what’s generally thought of as your internet speed. - Upload speed. This is your internet connection going in the other direction – measuring how fast data can make its way from your device to the internet. - Symmetrical speeds. When your download and upload speeds are equal, you have the best of both worlds — which can make it easier for you to attend online meetings, livestream, upload to social media, and get your gaming on. ### What should I know about 5G home internet speeds? With 5G home internet speeds, sometimes referred to as "home internet" service by 5G home internet providers, a home’s internet connection is powered by a signal coming from a cellular tower. The speed and strength of that signal can vary widely, depending on demands being placed on the cell tower(s) and the physical objects between the cell tower and the home. Additionally, you may not be able to get symmetrical speeds — or download and upload speeds that are equivalent to each other — with 5G home internet service. This can impact your ability to attend video meetings, livestream, upload content to social media or the cloud, and participate in gaming activities.