AT&T and Verizon have spent the past couple of years trying to outdo one another in early 5G plans, stoking the fire of hype as they went. They have been so eager to be the first tier one operators with large-scale 5G services that they have not waited for smartphones or affordable, fully standards-based equipment to be ready. They are starting with fixed wireless (Verizon for better commercial reasons than AT&T) and with networks for which they will have paid a premium, given the lack of scale in the market (Verizon’s is even pre-standard). This is good for their PR in an increasingly competitive market, and helps support a nationalistic government’s narrative of global hi-tech leadership and battles with China.…