After touting the launch of the world's first 5G network in December, it still hasn't made it available to anyone aside from select, friendly business customers.

CNET's speed test of 5G networks around the world, spanning everywhere from Seoul to London and many cities in between, have found startling high speeds but limited or spotty coverage.

All new network deployments have their fair share of growing pains, but this generation's rollout has been far more problematic.

If the last few years have been all about building up hype for when 5G becomes reality, 2019 has been about sustaining that hype until 5G becomes something ready for mainstream consumers.

It's been about a series of first: AT and Korean telecom player KT jockeying to be the first to launch a 5G; Verizon launching the first 5G network available to US consumers; Motorola launching the first 5G device through a Moto Mod attachment; Samsung launching the first 5G smartphone; or EE launching the first UK network.

Ultimately, this is more about bragging rights and the ability to tout network superiority over their competitors, and less about whether you as a consumer are going to get a good experience.