CES 2019: Verizon showcases the potential of 5G with drones, Disney and more

There was little new to learn about Verizon's 5G offerings on the CES keynote stage Wednesday night, but Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg promised that the new technology will dramatically impact all aspects of the economy.

5G connectivity, Vestberg said, will be "a quantum leap comopared to 4G." Prove that, he shared the CES stage with a diverse set of industry partners, including the New York Times, Walt Disney Studios, the medical technology company Medivis and the Verizon-owned drone operation company Skyward.

Each partner spoke of how 5G will transform their business. For instance, Verizon is partnering with Walt Disney's StudioLab to explore how next-generation connectivity can improve Disney's content production and transmission. Meanwhile, Skyward President Mariah Scott said that Verizon is committed to being the first to connect 1 million drone flights on its 5G network.

To expand its network of partners, Vestberg announced Verizon is launchinng a 5G innovation challenge, offering up to $1 million in seed money for the best applications of the technology.

MUST READ

• CES 2019 Las Vegas CNET
  
• CES 2019: A first look at the cool tech TechRepublic

While Verizon and other telecoms have hailed the arrival of 5G for some time, their definitions of the technology don't always line up with one another. Verizon last October said it launched "the world's first commercial 5G service" with 5G Home, a fixed wireless service for residential customers. It offers theoretical peak throughput speeds of 1Gbps.

During the keynote, Vestberg called Clayton Harris of Houston, Texas, the first 5G Home customer. Harris ran a speed test from his home, reaching 690 Mbps. He said he normally sees between 600 Mbps and 1 Gbps, with speeds at times reaching as high as 1.3 Gbps.

More CES 2019 coverage:

• On the eve of CES 2019, the prospects for a post-Windows world
  
• CES chief Gary Shapiro predicts the biggest hits of 2019 show
  
• Asus launches Chromebook Education series with trio of laptops
  
• CES 2019 preview, upcoming phone leaks
  
• CES 2019: What to expect from the chipmakers
  
• Nvidia's new GeForce RTX 2060 is just $349
  
• 5G, AI, design and data collide
  
• AARP trialing virtual reality for remote healthcare
  
• iOttie unveils smartphone car mount with built-in Amazon Alexa
  
• BlackBerry Secure packs aspire to give security to 'all smart things'
  
• Voice activated trash disposal
  
• Ford demos cellular V2X with Qualcomm chipset
  
• Robotic suitcases back (and ... maybe better?) at this year's show
  
• Google Assistant to hit 1 billion devices
  
• CES 2019: 3 reasons professionals should pay attention
  
• Ring expands product lineup with new video doorbell
  
• Nvidia CEO Huang explains how AI changes everything
  
• Are these newly launched '5G' services truly 5G wireless?
  
• Why UBTech is on track to become our first robot overlord
  
• Sprint unveils smart home Magic Box, confirms Samsung 5G phone
  
• Samsung announces 5G smartphone sneak peek
  
• Toyota details Guardian driver assist to avoid car crashes
  
• Intel unveils 10nm PC products for AI and 5G
  
• Intel strikes deal with Comcast for 10-gigabit cable
  
• Intel and Alibaba partner on artificial intelligence
  
• Intel's Mobileye signs deal with UK mapping agency
  
• Lenovo outlines ThinkPad X1 Carbon and ThinkPad X1 Yoga
  
• Nvidia expands into more mainstream automotive market
  
• LG's IP Park presents a vision of "evolving intelligence"
  
• Alibaba's Tmall Genie assistant comes to BMW vehicles in China
  
• IBM at CES 2019 outlines Q System One quantum computer
  
• IBM aims to use crowdsourced sensor data to improve local weather