What Is 5G Home Internet?

By Steve Vegvari

Last updated 21 January 2026

Contents

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What is 5G home internet?
Who offers 5G home internet in Canada?
Why you should choose 5G home internet
FAQ

Canadians often choose between widely adopted cable internet and newer, faster fibre when choosing an internet plan. 5G Home Internet is a rarely discussed third option, but it’s a growing alternative to the other internet standards.

Let's explore what 5G home internet is, the technology 5G uses, and how Canadians can benefit from 5G home internet compared to cable and fibre.

What is 5G home internet?

For decades, home internet in Canada meant one thing: a physical connection running into your house. Whether it's cable, DSL, or fibre, each is tied to underground infrastructure and sometimes limited by where you live. In 2026, that assumption no longer holds. Thanks to expanded wireless networks, 5G home internet has become a legitimate alternative for Canadians who want fast, flexible broadband without the installation headaches.

At a basic level, 5G home internet uses the same cellular networks that power modern smartphones. Instead of connecting a phone, it connects to a dedicated 5G home internet gateway. That gateway receives a 5G signal from nearby cell towers and distributes it throughout your home via Wi-Fi.

Where things get more nuanced is in the difference between 5G and 5G+.

5G connection types: 5G vs. 5G+

Standard 5G typically uses lower-band or mixed spectrum frequencies. It delivers faster speeds and lower latency than LTE, making it suitable for everyday tasks like streaming, browsing, video calls, and remote work. Traditionally, 5G home internet download speeds can fall between 100–500Mbps, similar to speeds on a smartphone. Carriers such as Rogers, Freedom Mobile, and Xplore all provide plans for 5G home internet in Canada.

5G+ uses a more advanced frequency spectrum that allows for higher speeds and better performance with high demand. In broader terms, 5G+ enables smoother 4K streaming, more reliable connections during peak hours, and better support for multi-device households.

For home internet, this distinction matters. Providers offering 5G+ infrastructure can better deliver high-speed performance, especially in homes that stream heavily, work remotely, or rely on cloud services.

That said, availability of 5G+ is still more limited than standard 5G, particularly outside major urban centres. But a few providers already offer 5G home internet plans.

Who offers 5G home internet in Canada?

As of 2026, 5G home internet in Canada is offered by a small but growing group of providers, each targeting different types of users. As previously mentioned, Rogers, Freedom Mobile, and Xplore are the three major carriers of 5G home internet in Canada.

Rogers 5G home internet is one of the most widely available offerings in the country. Its service is designed as a plug-and-play replacement for traditional wired internet, with no technician visit required.

Freedom Mobile's 5G home internet service is currently invite-only and limited to existing Freedom Mobile customers in eligible coverage areas. As for Xplore, this carrier has built its own fixed 5G network for rural and underserved communities in Canada.

For many rural Canadians, Xplore’s 5G home internet represents the first time high-speed, low-latency internet has been a viable option.

Here's a quick breakdown of what each carrier provides, the speeds you can expect, and 5G home internet pricing.

5G home internet plan options

Plan	Data	5G speeds	Price	Shop plan
Rogers Essentials	200GB200GB	Up to 500MbpsUp to 500Mbps	1$60/mo.	View Plan
Freedom Mobile 200GB invite only	4.5 200GB	2 Up to 100mbps	2.5 $24/mo.	View Plan
Xplore 5G 50	4 Unlimited	2.5 Up to 100mbps	4 $59/mo.	View Plan

Where is 5G home internet available?

5G home internet is available in various pockets across Canada, depending on the provider. In most cases, this option for the internet is dependent on your address and whether the carrier provides support in your area.

For major Canadian cities and suburbs, 5G home internet is most commonly available from Rogers. Freedom Mobile comes in at a close second with strong support across many provinces. These include:

Ontario
British Columbia
Alberta
Manitoba
Quebec (primarily urban centres)

In these areas, 5G home internet competes directly with cable and fibre, offering a faster setup and, in some cases, lower costs.

For rural Canadians, Xplore is likely your primary option. Xplore’s network expansion has brought 5G service to parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador.

That said, not every rural address is covered yet. Therefore, it's essential to verify your address on the carrier's website to confirm if your area is supported.

Why you should choose 5G home internet

5G home internet won't be the solution for every Canadian. Though it's a solid and stable option with some clear advantages. As opposed to cable and fibre, 5G home internet is truly a plug-and-play option. Once you receive your gateway hardware, you can plug it in and begin connecting your devices. The setup doesn't depend on technicians coming to your home or dealing with wire installations.

5G home internet supports now-standard download speeds, ranging from 100Mbps to up to 500Mbps. This is fast enough for HD and 4K streaming, video calls, and multi-device connections in the home. Although fibre still wins in terms of peak download speeds, 5G home internet is a good alternative with competitive prices in many cases.

FAQs

Is 5G home internet faster than cable?

Depending on your cable internet package, yes, 5G home internet can be faster. In most cases, cable and 5G home internet provide equal download speeds.

Is 5G home internet a good option for rural areas?

Yes, 5G home internet is a remarkable option for rural areas. For Canadians, 5G home internet can be a stable replacement for slower DSL or satellite options.

Is 5G home internet unlimited?

Many Canadian providers, like Rogers and Freedom Mobile, provide unlimited 5G home internet with monthly data pools. Once the data allotment has been used, the internet continues to be accessible, albeit at slower speeds, for the remainder of the billing cycle.

What are the disadvantages of 5G internet?

One of the major disadvantages of 5G home internet is its limited coverage. Unless deployed in your area, there isn't a workaround for gaining access. 5G signals can also be easily disrupted between thicker walls and buildings, requiring denser tower placement across provinces.

Steve Vegvari

Steve Vegvari is a 10-year writer in the gaming and tech space, writing for several Canadian publications. He's covered everything from the latest marquee games and hardware to smartphones, smart home devices, TVs, and smart lights. Steve emphasizes his love of weird, experimental tech while uncovering the pros and cons of the Canadian mobile market.