Wait, why the hell is the ‘race to 5G’ even a race?

I have a dumb question that no one seems capable of answering directly: Why is 5G a race?
Everyone — the wireless industry, Democrats, Republicans, the major media, you name it — frames the building of next-generation 5G networks as a “race” in which the United States needs to demonstrate “leadership.”
Here is The Washington Post declaring America has the lead in the race to 5G. Here’s CNN asking “Who’s winning the race to 5G?” Here&rs