After the release of iOS 15, there’s more good news coming for iPhone users. T-mobile customers using an iPhone are now seeing a massive jump in internet speeds, thanks to its Ultra Capacity 5Gmor 5G UC in short. What is it and why are you seeing the 5G UC icon on your iPhone? All this coming up.
What is 5G UC?
As one would already know, 5G is the next generation of mobile network standards. The UC stands for Ultra Capacity (T-mobile users only), which is an even faster version of 5G with speeds crossing the 500Mbps threshold with ease.
Sheeeesshhh👀⚡️⚡️‼️. That 5G UC is no joke👀. #TeamMagenta pic.twitter.com/UOwwkGAGQN
— Jonathan Viacava (@JonathanViacava) September 21, 2021
This means that if you see the 5G UC logo, expect some lightning-fast mobile internet speeds.
5G UC meaning on T-mobile
There are two T-mobile network bands – T-Mobile’s mid-band network and the high-band mmWave network. T-Mobile users are connected to either one of them. The low-band 5G (which it calls 5G extended range) will have just the 5G logo, while the ultra-fast 5G (which it calls 5G Ultra Capacity) will have 5G with a crowning ‘UC’.
The difference here concerns the range and the speeds. The 5G extended range reaches a broader area but compromises (only a little) on speed. Whereas 5G ultra capacity is a super-fast version of the same, but may not be available everywhere.
iPhone 5G UC: What does UC mean next to 5G?
The president of technology at T-mobile has mentioned the upgrade on his Twitter handle, tweeting:
#iPhone13 and #iPhone13Pro will let @TMobile customers know when they are in an area with⚡️💪 fast speeds with Ultra Capacity 5G!
Just keep an eye out for the below icon. 📱 users will see it more and more as we continue to rapidly roll out this 🔥🔥spectrum combo. pic.twitter.com/EirfCk8pjl
— Neville (@NevilleRay) September 14, 2021
iPhone users fashioning an iPhone 12 or older will see the 5G UC icon when they are in an area with a faster network. As this spectrum combo continues to roll out, more and more users will start seeing this 5G UC icon often.
Why am I seeing 5G UC now?
If you’re seeing the 5G UC logo, this means that you have either an iPhone 12 or a newer device, are a T-mobile user, and are in an area that has 5G Ultra Capacity speeds.
There are other companies doing similar things. Verizon is clearly differentiating its low-band 5G (which is simply called 5G) from its mmWave coverage, called 5G UW or ultra-wideband. Then there’s AT&T that keeps the naming rather simple, with 5G and 5G Plus.
It appears that the major telecom companies are making this move to get more customers to join their 5G bandwagon (pardon the pun). 5G UC is T-Mobile’s version of it, and quite aptly named as well as, according to Speed Test, they have the fastest 5G speeds in the business.
According to @speedtest, @TMobile has the fastest network for iPhone & with the new 5G UC icon, iPhone users can know when they get these super-fast speeds!
Follow me & show the benefits of Ultra Capacity 5G using only emojis below! I may have a 📱 for some of my favorites. 😉 pic.twitter.com/qwI2SOMMBM
— Mike Katz (@Mike_Katz) September 24, 2021
What does 5G UW mean?
5G UW or 5G Ultra-Wideband is Verizon’s higher-frequency mmWave spectrum. Just like T-Mobile, Verizon is also differentiating between its low-band 5G and its faster counterpart 5G UW. This will only be available in certain locations where Verizon can provide a consistent ultra-wideband network, not nationwide as is the case with 5G.
Regardless of whether you’re a T-mobile, Verizon, or AT&T customer, keep an eye out for the coronated 5G icon.
Fwiw my 5G UC with an iPhone 13 is typically around 280. Haven’t seen it over that yet and it’s been consistently at about that.
P.S. Still happy with that though. LTE was usually around 70.