Verizon’s “low latency” 5G Edge network is specified at 20-35 ms. Its 4G network averages ~32 ms. That’s an insignificant difference that makes almost no difference to any application. It is not “low latency” nor does it improve the user experience.
For example, I and many others get dizzy in Virtual Reality unless the latency is close to 10 ms. 20-35 ms doesn’t cut it.
Vestberg claimed in 2022 “You cannot do Metaverse without the network that Verizon is building today with low latency.” 20-35 ms doesn’t improve the Metaverse.
“This quarter, we partnered with Cisco to deliver the low latency connectivity necessary for autonomous vehicles.” Autonomous cars don’t need low latency. Hundreds are on the road today, without low latency. They are all designed to work even without a network. (Q1 2022 financial call.
“Our high-capacity, low-latency network delivers a superior, unmatched experience,” he adds. T-Mobile more than matches Verizon in capacity, delivering mid-band to 80 million more people.
I like Vestberg, who’s been friendly to me. His work with the UN Broadband Commission shows he has a social conscience. But he doesn’t have and isn’t building a low latency network.
Does Hans not know the actual performance of his network? Or does he just lie as a way of doing business.
In 2019, Verizon intended to deploy 1,000 servers across the US. That would bring typical latency down to 8-15 ms. Instead, it has less than two dozen. Neither Verizon nor any other carrier outside of Asia is delivering “low latency.”
Vestberg postponed indefinitely the large, expensive Edge network. Neither Verizon nor DT are building the network they planned.
Customers aren’t willing to pay for low latency because it does very little for almost everyone.