What is a 5G mobile network?

5G is the fifth generation of wireless connectivity. It can transmit data up to 4 times faster than 4G LTE. It also allows a huge number of devices, i.e. up to one million per square kilometre, to work together at the same time. Latency (the delay between sending and receiving data) is greatly reduced, which makes everything feel faster and more responsive.  

At Fizz, 5G is safe. It mainly uses the same frequencies as 4G LTE and complies with all Health Canada and ISED standards, with no difference when it comes to data protection and privacy.  

The 5G network is used for data only; voice calls still use the 4G LTE network. Depending on your phone model, the 5G icon may still appear during a call. For now, Voice over 5G is not available with Fizz.  

To use 5G, you need three things:  

Be in a covered area

• Our 5G network is expanding and currently serves the main urban areas. Check our coverage map to see where 5G is available. 
  

Have a compatible device

• Take a look at the Phone characterisctics section on our site to see if your phone is 5G-compatible. For more details, refer to the technical specifications provided by your phone’s manufacturer. 
   

On a compatible phone, 5G usually turns on automatically. If it doesn’t, check your phone’s network settings and, if needed, refer to the manufacturer’s website for instructions.  
Please note that 5G service cannot be guaranteed on devices that were not purchased from Fizz.  

Have a plan that includes 5G

• Make sure you've selected a plan that includes 5G.

• For an already active line whose plan doesn’t include 5G, you’ll need to change to a 5G‑enabled plan. 

If needed, restart your device after changing your plan.  

If all the prerequisites above are met (coverage area, compatible device, 5G plan), try the following:  

• Restart your device (power cycle).  
• Make sure 5G is selected as a preferred network type in your settings (if needed, check your device manufacturer’s website).  
• Check that any power‑saving or low‑power mode is turned off.  

5G+ is an evolution of 5G technology that allows devices to use the 3500 MHz spectrum. This lets you benefit from even higher speeds with 5G+.  

Whether the 5G+ icon appears on your phone depends on how each manufacturer has set things up. That means two phones in the same place, on the same network, may show different icons (5G+ versus 5G) while delivering the same performance.  

On most Android devices, the 5G+ icon is mainly tied to using the 3500 MHz frequency. Other manufacturers combine several technical criteria to decide when to display that icon.  

In short, the 5G+ icon:  

• is mostly a way for each phone manufacturer to highlight the use of new frequency bands and the higher speeds they can offer;  
• is a visual indicator that depends on the brand and doesn’t necessarily reflect a real difference in network quality or speed.