5G, the next generation of wireless technology, promises to do a lot of things. It'll allow you to download big games and movies in a flash. It'll connect all sorts of devices around you, from street lamps to self-driving cars. It'll enable new fields such as streaming VR experiences and telemedicine.
There's at least one more potential impact coming: a hit to your wallet. Wireless carriers rarely like to give anything away for free. And given the hype and excitement over 5G, it seems like a perfect time to tack another charge onto your mobile plan.
Verizon, for instance, waived the $10-a-month fee for 5G for customers who bought 5G Moto Mod or Galaxy S10 5G -- a smart move considering how small a footprint is available. But the company should go the extra mile and eliminate the fee altogether.
Sprint doesn't charge a fee, but requires you to sign up for its $80 "Unlimited Premium" plan.
AT&T, which launched its 5G network for businesses in December but hasn't made it available to consumers, didn't provide specifics about the pricing plans for its business customers.
5G is going to be a shaky experience for anyone looking to make the leap, and we advise that you exercise a little patience before buying a 5G phone.
Growing pains are inevitable as new networks spring up, and that's all the more reason for carriers to resist the urge to charge extra fees for the privilege of accessing 5G services. Early adopters shouldn't be taxed for the work-in-progress nature of these networks.
Beyond fees, the carriers should remove the data limitations that call for throttling once you've consumed a certain amount of data. Under 4G, Verizon's $60-a-month "AboveUnlimited" plan, for instance, gives the carrier the right to limit you if you've hit 75 gigabytes of data. T-Mobile's $50 "Magenta Plus" plan has a throttling limit of 50B before the carrier can slow you down during heavy congestion periods.
5G will serve as the catalyst for new services and applications. But in order to get to that bright future, we need to ensure a wide highway that's free of tolls. (Roger Cheng)
