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5G UC vs. 5G UW: Key Differences and Full Comparison

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5G UC vs. 5G UW: Key Differences and Full Comparison

5G UC vs. 5G UW – just what do these two terms really mean? When you connect to a 5G network, you might see the icons 5G UC and 5G UW on your phone. But the question is, what exactly are these icons, what are their functions, what is 5G UC, and what is 5G UW? Don’t worry. We’re here to explain everything you need to know about these terms.

5G cellular networks gain the interest of many people due to their unique offerings, such as throughput, data rate, coverage area, latency, bandwidth, reliability, and many other factors. However, this performance powerhouse is challenging to understand due to its numerous variants and terminologies that many mobile operators are marketing. These terminologies include 5G UC and 5G UW.

T-Mobile’s 5G UC or Ultra capacity terminology refers to the mostly mid-band and partially high-band spectrum of 1.7 GHz to 4.7 GHz. T-Mobile uses it to cover several miles of the area at speeds ranging from 100 to 900 Mbps with a single antenna.

Similarly, Verizon has introduced its high-band and mid-band under the market name of 5G UW or Ultra-Wideband. Verizon uses it to provide a more reliable connection, increased speed, and expanded coverage area.

Let’s learn more about these terms by comparing them side by side. 

5G UC vs. 5G UW: Comparison

5G UC5G UW
What is It?5G Ultra capacity is a term T-Mobile uses for mentioning the mid-band and high-band spectrum connectivity.Verizon uses 5G Ultra-wideband terminology for connecting its users to the high-band and mid-band frequency spectrum.
Terminology5G Ultra Capacity5G Ultra-wideband
Telecom CarrierT-MobileVerizon
Potential UseTo market 5G high band and mid-band spectrumTo market C-band and mmWave band
Roll-out DateDecember 12, 2022April 3, 2019
Frequency Bands(n41) 2.5 GHz, (n258) 24 GHz, (n260) 39 GHz, (n261) 28GHz(n261) 28 GHz, (n260) 39 GHz
BandwidthMid to highMid to high
Data Rate3 Gbps4 Gbps
Coverage RadiusSingle building to multiple milesAn apartment to a few city blocks
Nationwide Coverage53%12%
AvailabilityAll major cities in the USSt. Paul, Los Angeles, Houston, Sioux Falls, Dallas, Boise, Omaha, Minneapolis, New York City, Panama City, Denver, Boston, Providence, Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis, Phoenix,  Washington DC, and Chicago
Capacity200 million plus in the US100 million plus in the US
Supporting devicesMobile phone, MiFi, or any other device with T-Mobile service & networkMobile phones or other Verizon sim-based devices with network coverage
Hardware requirement5G mmWave, and mid-band BTSMid-band and high-band supporting antennas
largest tech companies
Verizon’s 5G Ultra-wideband connects over 100 million users to the high-band and mid-band frequency spectrum.

5G UC vs. 5G UW: What’s the Difference?

Although 5G technology brings numerous benefits, it is not as simple as it appears. On the one hand, it has multiple frequency bands (low, mid, and high). Still, each carrier has launched different marketing names such as Ultra-wideband, Ultra Capacity, Nationwide, 5G+, and so on. So what’s the difference between 5G UC vs. 5G UW?

To clear up any confusion, we’re here to explain the difference between 5G Ultra Capacity and 5G Ultra-wideband.

T-Mobile’s marketing name for its high and mid-band frequency connection is 5G Ultra Capacity or 5G UC. When you see the 5G UC icon on your phone, it means you’re using either the C-band or the mmWave. However, determining which band you are using is difficult.

Similarly, Verizon’s marketing term for high-band and mid-band connections is 5G UW or Ultra-wideband. Verizon, like T-Mobile, combined the two bands and launched them under a single market name, Ultra-wideband.  

The question now is: why is it necessary to merge the two bands and launch them under a single name? 

The high band has high data rates but a small radius, so it is combined with the mid-band, which has acceptable data rates and covers a large area. As a result, both coverage and data rate requirements are met by a single offering. Let’s compare the details a little closer.

Frequency

The main difference between the two mobile operators’ offerings is their frequency. Overall, both combine the mid and high-band frequency ranges, but their spectrums differ.

If you use T-Mobile on your iPhone or Android smartphone, you need a 5G Ultra Capacity connection for high-speed internet, a reliable connection, and excellent performance, which you can get by using the following frequencies: 

  • Band n41 (2.5 GHz)
  • Band n258 (24 GHz)
  • Band n260 (39 GHz)
  • Band n261 (28 GHz)

The spectrum mentioned above is a mix of high and mid-band frequencies that a smartphone can use when connected to a T-Mobile Ultra Capacity subscription. It’s difficult to tell whether you’re browsing over mid-band or high-band frequency after connecting to the network.

Verizon, on the other hand, uses multiple frequencies for its 5G cellular network offerings, such as n5 (850 MHz), n66 (1700 MHz), and n2 (1900 MHz), which can connect major cities.  

Although 5G nationwide covers a large area, it cannot provide a reliable connection, higher data rates, and enhanced performance, so Verizon introduced its 5G UW or Ultra-wideband offering, which relies only on two spectrum bands, as opposed to T-Mobile’s UC. These frequency bands consist of the following bands. 

  • Band n260 (39 GHz)
  • Band n261 (28 GHz)

Both bands can provide higher data rates, but they cover a smaller area, so Verizon uses 5G nationwide to cover large areas and its potential user base. 

Coverage Area

The coverage area is the second significant difference between both carriers’ offerings after frequency. As previously stated, T-Mobile’s ultra-capacity offering employs multiple frequency bands, allowing it to cover a larger area with incredible speed.

As a result, T-Mobile Ultra Capacity can cover all major cities with a population of 10,000 to 50,000 people, such as Los Angeles, New York, and Denver. It can now cover 200 million users across the US territories.

Regarding Verizon’s 5G Ultra-wideband network coverage, it covers 2700+ cities and a large portion of its potential users with 5G nationwide due to limited frequency spectrum availability. 

However, 5G Ultra-wideband is available in cities like St. Paul, Los Angeles, Houston, Sioux Falls, Dallas, Boise, Omaha, Minneapolis, New York City, Panama City, Denver, Boston, Providence, Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Washington DC, and Chicago.

T mobile logo illuminated with magenta lights
T-Mobile provides its 5G Ultra Capacity high and mid-band frequency connection to over 200 million subscribers in the US.

Speed

When we compared the speeds of both carriers, we discovered that they both use various techniques to provide their customers with blisteringly fast speeds.

Verizon’s 5G Ultra-wideband offers up to 200 Mbps upload, and 4 Gbps download speeds, allowing you to conduct a glitch-free video conference, play online games, and download a 4K movie with a single snap of the fingers.

On the other hand, T-Mobile’s 5G Ultra Capacity is not far from these figures, as it offers up to 3 Gbps download speed in most cities. However, it is three times faster than Verizon’s offering in cities such as Cleveland, Orlando, Cincinnati, and Salt Lake City.

T-Mobile is not only providing the fastest speeds possible, but it is also expanding its footprint across the country.

Pricing

Comparing T-Mobile and Verizon’s offerings without considering the cost factor is impossible because it is one of the major differences we can have when choosing any of their services.

Verizon’s unlimited postpaid plan costs up to $90 plus taxes. It includes 5G Ultra-wideband network access, unlimited talk time, unlimited mobile data, 50 GB mobile hotspot, Apple arcade or Google play pass, Hulu, Disney+, Espn, and many other features.

Its prepaid Ultra-wideband plan costs $75 and includes unlimited text, data, and talk time, but it lacks features such as streaming, gaming, and mobile hotspot support.

T-Mobile, on the other hand, offers a variety of plans, the most expensive of which is the Magenta and Magenta Max, which offer unlimited talk time, data, text, and streaming over Netflix, Prime, and Apple TV for $140 and $170 per month, respectively.  

What is 5G UC? What is 5G UW?

5G UC is the marketing term T-Mobile uses for its 5G network, and it stands for 5G Ultra Capacity. 5G UW stands for 5G Ultra Wideband and is the marketing term Verizon uses to identify its fastest 5G network. So, what is 5G UC? And, what is 5G UW? They both use high-frequency radio waves to achieve higher speeds and lower latency compared to other 5G networks. The downside is that high-frequency radio waves have a shorter range making coverage more limited. Both 5G UC and 5G UW use a combination of mid-band and high-band frequencies. This combination means both 5G UC and 5G UW can offer higher speeds in high traffic areas and offer good coverage in rural areas.

5G UC & 5G UW: 10 Must-Know Facts

To get to the crux of this comparison, consider the following points:

  • The 5G plans include ultra capacity and ultrawideband.
  • T-Mobile markets its high and mid-band 5G offering as Ultra Capacity.
  • Verizon’s 5G product line includes Ultra-wideband.
  • T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity is a combination of C-band and mmWave that it uses to expand its footprint while providing the highest data rates possible.
  • Similarly, Verizon’s market name is Ultra-wideband, an amalgamation of the mid and high-band frequency spectrum.
  • Ultra Capacity offers up to 3 Gbps speeds, which outperforms Verizon’s Ultra-wideband speed of 4 Gbps in some cities.
  • To provide Ultra Capacity, T-Mobile employs four frequency bands: n41 (2.5 GHz), n258 (24 GHz), n260 (39 GHz), and n261 (28 GHz).
  • Similarly, Verizon uses n260 (39 GHz) and n261 (28 GHz) for its Ultra-wideband offering.
  • Verizon’s 5G Nationwide service covers a large area rather than using Ultra-wideband, which provides higher data rates.
  • T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity has higher data rates and a larger footprint than Verizon’s UW offering.
  • T-Mobile UC and Verizon UW have different pricing plans, but Verizon’s is less expensive than T-Mobile’s. 

5G UC & 5G UW: Which is Better?

Although both terms sound like variants of 5G technology, they are not; instead, they are the package name for 5G technology’s C band and mmWave band.

The reason for bringing these market names together is that both networks wanted to take advantage of the benefits of the mid-band and high-band 5G spectrums, as the mid-band has a larger footprint but a lower data rate, so combining them will give you the best of both worlds.

However, when we compare the Ultra Capacity and Ultra-wideband based on frequency, coverage, speed, and pricing, we can conclude that T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity has an advantage over Verizon’s Ultra-wideband because it continues to lead the US market with approximately 300 million subscribers.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What are 5G UC and 5G UW?

Ultra Capacity and Ultra-wideband are the market names for T-Mobile and Verizon’s 5G product lines, respectively. They are both a combination of 5G’s mid and high-band spectrums. When you use any of the products, it becomes difficult to tell which spectrum you are currently using.

How is 5G UC different from 5G UW?

In general, both terms represent the same thing and have many similarities. Still, they differ in many ways, such as belonging to different mobile carriers, using different frequency ranges, offering multiple data rates, and many more.

 

What is the benefit of using 5G UC?

T-Mobile has made 5G Ultra Capacity available to its customers to improve their mobile internet experience by providing more bandwidth, higher data rates, lower latency, and a more reliable connection.

 

How is 5G UC better than 5G UW?

Although 5G UC and 5G UW are two sides of the same coin, T-Mobile’s Ultra Capacity band outperforms the Ultra-wideband due to its longer range, higher data rates, and 300 million subscriber footprint. You can easily find Ultra Capacity in almost every US city. However, Verizon’s Ultra-wideband is still struggling to match T-Mobile’s footprint.

 

Does 5G UC and UW consume more battery?

Neither 5G UC nor UW consumes battery on their own, as a variety of factors other than the network determines the battery consumption of any mobile phone. If your phone is having trouble connecting to or receiving a signal from the nearest tower, or if you are using your data network excessively for UHD videos or online gaming, there is a chance of a fast battery drain.

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