You most likely already know that 5G is a broadly used abbreviation for a model of cellular community requirements. (Also, that it’s probably the most present commonplace in use.) That “G” slapped subsequent to the quantity means “generation.” It’s not a reference to the obtain or add speeds you get in your cellphone.

You additionally might have already seen the commercials about Comcast’s new 10G Xfinity community blanketing the airwaves and different platforms. And because the Xfinity web site doesn’t really clarify what “10G” means, you would possibly assume that the corporate’s dwelling web service is a sooner model of 5G. Even in case you dig round and come upon Comcast’s corporate webpage about 10G, its reference to “multi-gig speeds” gained’t essentially dispel your preliminary impression.

That’s seemingly what Comcast’s advertising and marketing group needs from co-opting cable-industry jargon created in 2019, lengthy after the naming of mobile networks started. But don’t allow them to confuse you. “10G” is a reference to 10Gbps, or the utmost velocity the Xfinity broadband community is able to. You’re studying that proper: It has nothing to do with mobile community terminology (like 5G) by any means, and Comcast’s service is for dwelling web, not cellular. It’s deeply deceptive.

In truth, Xfinity’s 10G community is technically slower than 5G. Peak theoretical throughput on an uncongested 5G community affords as much as 20Gbps obtain and 10Gbps add. Xfinity caps out at 10Gbps down and up.

Comcast

The humorous half is, Comcast ought to win the real-world battle right here. Practically talking, your cellphone on a 5G community will undergo from slowdowns attributable to congestion and sign power, making wire-based Xfinity connections seemingly faster. Current experiences put high 5G obtain speeds between 3Gbps to 10Gbps within the wild.

But Comcast is tooting its personal horn earlier than its multi-gig community has turn into widespread. Most clients can get simply 1Gbps down as the most effective plan, with an absurdly asymmetrical add velocity of 35Mbps (sure, megabits). And whereas sooner uploads are slowly rolling out to totally different areas, entry is just out there once you choose into the corporate’s $30/month xFi Complete add-on, which incorporates limitless information and different extras. Oof.

Update, October 2023: Turns out that the National Advertising Division, the group shaped by the advert business to self-regulate fact in promoting, agrees that Comcast’s 10G marketing campaign is deceptive. As noticed by Ars Technica, the NAD has issued a press release recommending that Comcast both cease claiming 10G or be clearer that the corporate remains to be working towards offering such speeds. This rebuke was issued after T-Mobile filed a problem. In the identical submit, the org has additionally urged Comcast to make clear that web service is unavailable throughout energy outages.

Long story quick, take Comcast’s boasts about its new community with an enormous grain of salt. Many folks will most likely assume a 10G community is healthier than a 5G community, however it’s simply not the case—evaluating the 2 is like pitting apples towards oranges. Meanwhile, AT&T’s “gigillionaire” promoting marketing campaign could also be arduous to sit down via, however at the very least the language isn’t tough to know.

Editor’s notice: This story was initially printed on March 20, 2023, and up to date on October 23, 2023 with details about the NAD’s name for Comcast to halt or change using 10G in its commercials.