5G doesn’t always work

[5Gnowork]

I have 5G start plan and way to often it shows 5G but has not internet/connectivity. Happens with 1-3 bars. I have to sometimes manually switch to LTE. Is Verizon throttling cheaper plans or is it a network issue? If I see 5G on my phone, the connection should be working and faster than LTE, no? 

I have friends on AT&T and T-Mobile and they don’t have these issues.

[SynthpopAddict]

Considering you are able to band select, your phone must be unlocked and not a Verizon carrier phone.  What is the make/model of your phone?  It's possible that your phone is not quite compatible with everything on the network.

If your SIM or eSIM is old, or you used to not have 5G in your neighborhood but now there is 5G, or you didn't use to have 5G UW service in your area but now there is, try getting a new SIM or eSIM to see if that helps.  Your account may need to be re-provisioned so that you can use 5G or 5G UW, because maybe it was set up for LTE service or "regular" 5G only, so whenever your phone picks up 5G UW, doesn't work anymore because it doesn't know what to do with the new spectrum.

As for whether or not 5G goes faster, depends on the variety of 5G.  Low-band 5G has the longest distance coverage (a few miles), but runs about the same speed as LTE.  Mid-band and high-band 5G go considerably faster than LTE, but the radio waves don't travel far at all, so are a larger city thing and you have to be in the right place.

[5Gnowork]

It’s an iPhone 13pro from Verizon. It’s not some unlocked phone I brought to Verizon.

[vzw_customer_support]

@5Gnowork  wrote: >It’s an iPhone 13pro from Verizon. It’s not some unlocked phone I brought to Verizon.

We appreciate the details that you have shared with us and we are here to investigate further. As with any connection to our Network, your speeds and connection are going to be based on your location and the service available in that area. Does this happen everywhere or only in certain locations? Is this a recent occurance or is this your typical experience with service in the area/areas of concern?

-Andi

[SynthpopAddict · Accepted solution]

Thanks for sharing that detail.  The only thing I can think of is your account needs to be re-provisioned to reflect that you can use all the 5G spectrum available.  Verizon has been expanding their 5G UW coverage lately, and if your neighborhood didn't use to have 5G UW but now it does, then the reason why your phone mysteriously loses internet connection while in 5G is because it's picking up a 5G spectrum it doesn't know what to do with.  Also get a new SIM or eSIM as your current one may be "stuck in the past".

I had thought Verizon removed all ability to band select on their carrier phones, but iPhones must be an exception.  Interesting.