There's a lot of news out there about 5G these days, whether it's the saga of whether the first iPhone with 5G capability will arrive on time, the rollout of other smartphones equipped with the technology, or the nonsense conspiracy theory that says 5G is tied to the spread of the coronavirus, which has led to the destruction of 5G towers in multiple countries.

The next generation of wireless connectivity, 5G was introduced in 2018 and has been rolling out ever since. To use it, you'll need a 5G-capable device, and also to be located in an area where the 5G network has been turned on.

There are four 5G networks in the U.S., from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. The latter two companies recently merged and are offering separate services for now, although they have begun combining their 5G networks in some markets, starting with Philadelphia and New York, The Verge reported last month.

So where is 5G available? Each of the companies has their own coverage map, but Digital Trends has combined them, where they can be viewed here.

According to that map, most major cities in the U.S. currently offer some 5G service from at least one of the four carriers. It's available from all four, or will be soon, in such places as Los Angeles, Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago, Houston,  New York and Atlanta.

As for Verizon, its network is available in the aforementioned cities, plus Boston, Denver, Detroit, Hoboken, NJ, Indianapolis, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Omaha, Providence,  Washington, Boise, Panama City, Fla., Sioux Falls, SD, Des Moines, Charlotte, Greensboro, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Miami, Grand Rapids, Mich., Cleveland, Columbus and Hampton Roads, Va. It's also coming soon to Cincinnati, Kansas City, Little Rock and San Diego, Digital Trends said.

The site notes that just because 5G service is available in a city, it doesn't mean it can be reached everywhere in that city. Also, AT&T's network offers "5G+" in some major cities, but its low-band version, just plain "5G" in others, such as Denver, Washington, Boston, St. Louis, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

These maps are subject to change, possibly very quickly. But once you decide to purchase a 5G device, it's worth checking back to see if your current carrier offers 5G coverage in your area.

Stephen Silver, a technology writer for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons.