SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — 5G broadband is fast–really fast–like 10 to 100 times faster than the current 4G service most of us use with our smartphones.
And Sioux Falls is in rarified air when it comes to the cutting edge technology.
“Sioux Falls will be one of the first 20 cities in the United States of America to be on Verizon’s 5G ultra-wide network,” said Craig Silliman, an executive vice president with the telecom giant. “This is a big deal. It’s an exciting thing for us at Verizon and I hope it’s an exciting thing for Sioux Falls.”
Mayor Paul TenHaken did not disagree.
“I use the phrase “Next Generation” leadership a lot,” TenHaken said. “It seems to resonate with people and today. The next generation of technology in our city will help us recruit the next generation of workers, the next generation of business. It will keep our economy really plowing forward.”
Sen. John Thune says it took a lot of work to make Sioux Falls one of the first 20 cities in the nation to get 5G.
“The opportunity to actually see 5G come to South Dakota is something that we started contemplating a long time ago,” Thune said. “I worked aggressively on legislation that would enable these types of new technologies to come to pass.”
Full 5G service will be available downtown later this month.
Even if you’re a skeptic of the need for super-fast 5G internet in Sioux Falls and you have a 4G smartphone, you’ll be in luck.
According to a Verizon official, even your current smartphone will be faster.
They said it would be about 12 times faster than conventional 4G–if you’re downtown near one of the 5G “can-tennas,” as Verizon calls them.
While TenHaken, Thune, and Verizon officials were holding their news conference announcing the preview of 5G broadband in downtown Sioux Falls, one man was not allowed into the proceedings Friday.
Christopher Bruce, who calls himself “The Living Man,” was outside the DocuTap building, protesting what he says are the dangers of 5G signals.
Bruce was recently released from jail for his conviction of stalking and threatening Mayor TenHaken.
Bruce now has to keep a distance from the Mayor and his family.
