Do I need a 5G SIM Card?

With 5G getting more and more popular, many questions have arisen around it. We have already covered topics such as “What is 5G” and “How does it work?” as well as mentioned details such as the countries where it is available.

Now that you are very interested in the 5G technology, we have come with more information that is useful. Here we will detail what you need to know about 5G SIM cards, and all the requirements needed to get access to the fastest mobile network:

Will My 4G SIM Work On a 5G device?

Many people around the world are always looking for the latest device. Mostly in developed countries, for example in the United States, on average, people change their phones every 2 years. Getting a new one means getting more internal space, a better camera, and the improvement of many features.

However, people try to keep their phone numbers as long as possible. We could find it a little annoying having to share the new phone number with our contacts, and changing it in all our accounts (social and financial).

For this reason, if you have had the same SIM card for a long time, it is likely to be a 4G SIM card.

So the question here is; will my 4G SIM card work on a 5G device? The straightforward answer is yes. It will work and connect to data; however, you will not get access to the 5G network. In short, there will be some limitations. If you want to get all the experience about connecting to the 5G network, you will need to get a new SIM card.

The thing is that as we mentioned before, it is not very funny to have to change the phone number. So the follow-up question should be: can I keep my old phone number with a new 5G SIM card?

The answer is that it will depend on your mobile provider. If your current mobile provider does not provide 5G services, you will need to change to another provider and as a result, get a new phone number. Now, if the company is already offering 5G services, you could ask them if there is the option of keeping your current phone number.

What Are The Requirements To Access 5G?

If you want to enjoy the experience of navigating using the fastest mobile data, there are some requirements you need to fulfill first. You will need 5G coverage, a 5G mobile phone, a 5G tariff, and a 5G SIM card.

Everyone that wants to switch from 4G to 5G, will need these four requirements, or will not be able to connect to the network. The only exception could be the 5G SIM card as we mentioned before.

However, let’s understand why you need this to get access to 5G:

5G Network Coverage

Before dreaming about navigating using 5G, we need to find out if our country has already installed the technology that enables a mobile network to provide 5G. In our previous article, we made a list of the countries where 5G networks were launched.

Some of them are the United States, Canada, most of the countries in Europe, China, and Japan. The thing is that even if you are in one of those countries, it is possible that in your area, you cannot connect to the 5G network yet.

Our recommendation is to contact directly your mobile network and find out whether they are providing 5G services or not. In case they are not, probably they could tell you when it is going to be available. The most popular networks offering the 5G services are Vodafone UK, EE, O2, and Three.

5G Device

Even if you have a 5G SIM card, you will not be able to access 5G networks if you do not have a 5G device. It is because this fifth-generation uses a technology called New Radio (NR) and only new 5G devices can support it. In a previous article, we mentioned some of the devices that stand 5G networks.

Some of them are iPhone 13 Pro Max, 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 12 mini, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, Note 20 Ultra, S21 Plus, A52 5G, Google Pixel 5a, OnePlus 9 Pro.

These devices are not cheap, and they can represent an investment. We suggest you find out first if your mobile network provides the 5G services. If you buy a 5G device and do not use the corresponding SIM card, your phone will not connect to the 5G network. However, you will still be able to connect to 4G LTE, 3G, and 2G.

Tariff

Remember that the 5G technology is still new in many countries. Although it is probably available in main cities, in other areas it could be difficult to find coverage. Now, the main network providers are offering separately the 4G plans and 5G plans. In that way, if you live in a place where the 5G network has not arrived yet, you can get access to the services at a better price.

You do not have to pay for the 5G service if you will not enjoy it. However, soon, when 5G reaches more and more places, it is likely that operators will start selling only 5G services. It means, there will be just a standard tariff for 5G.

SIM Card

As we mentioned before, to get access to the 5G network you will need a SIM card that works with 5G. It is also possible that you can keep your old phone number if you will continue working with the same carrier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a 5G SIM card?

Yes, you will need a 5G SIM card to get access to the 5G network.

Can I use a 4G SIM card in a 5G device?

Yes, you can use a 4G SIM card in a 5G device, however, it will connect to the 4G network.

Are the 5G devices expensive?

Taking into account that 5G is new and not mainstream yet, the devices that can connect to the 5G network are expensive.