Houston among first cities to get 5G wireless

HOUSTON – Houston, we have 5G.

Verizon will launch the fifth generation wireless internet service in Houston during the second half of this year.

READ: What is 5G?

5G  is the lightning quick "next generation" wireless technology that is expected to power self-driving cars, virtual reality, smart cities and networked robots.

Mayor Sylvester Turner spoke at a 1 p.m. news conference Tuesday and said Houston is the best place for growth and sees no problem with collaborating and partnering together with the company.

"One thing in this city we know, we know how to make things happen. This is a can-do spirit. we recognize the importance of business and our city, and our growth. and we will move things out of the way in order to remove regulatory constraint that would create an environment for business growth investment and development," Turner said.

He said he views technology investments as a critical development for the city of Houston.

“We expect 5G will be a game-changer helping us usher in a new wave of progress and innovation,” Turner said. “We’re delighted to be one of the first cities to bring 5G to our local communities and look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship with Verizon.”

Houston as the third of four cities that'll get 5G first, along with Sacramento and Los Angeles, according to CNET.

RELATED: How 5G wireless could change everything

Verizon CEO, Lowell McAda, said Houston's fast-growing market is fitting for the partnership, and thanked Houston mayor and local officials for the opportunity to expand in the city.

"So it's only fitting that today we take Houston on the forefront of 5G. For us, this market now is one of the fastest growing markets in the country for Verizon. It's neck and neck, by the way, with Dallas, so I'm sure there's a little Texas competition going on there," Lowell said.