5G vs. 4G is the hottest topic in every field that depends on an internet connection. Yes, it is indeed true that 5G is much, much faster than 4G and 4G LTE, but how much that is still not cleared. However, the internet speed depends on which carrier’s network you’re on. So, if you want to know the key differences between the 5th and 4th generations of mobile networking technology, you’re on the right page.
Here in this article, I will share some most important 5G vs. 4G differences, including speed comparison and benefits of 5G for businesses. So, keep reading this article until the end to understand the main variations between these mobile networking technologies.
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The cellular industry is rapidly working to enhance its wireless network technology. In 2000, we saw 3G network technology while 4G highly dominated the last decade. In 2019, the fifth-generation mobile telecom technology debuted in the US market, and soon, it will be rolled across the globe.
But the question is – is the 5G technology really worth the hype it is getting or is it just another marketing gimmick? If you have such questions in your head, then you have landed on the right webpage. You will get all your questions answered in this article, so stay tuned with us.
What is 5G?
5G, as the name suggests, is the fifth-generation mobile telecom technology that uses the 5G New Radio interface along with some other new technologies. This technology aims to replace LTE and bring new functionalities and benefits such as increased energy savings, enhanced connectivity, and the ability to connect virtually anything such as machines, objects, and devices.
It is designed to utilize the higher radio frequencies up to 28 GHz that allows it to transfer exponentially more data with faster speed. Not only that, but the technology also promises to offer low latency. It uses the Massive MIMO technology that overall delivers more speed, capacity, and improved coverage network.
What is 4G?
4G, which stands for fourth-generation mobile telecom technology, is currently the most popular mobile network technology widely available across the globe. 4G uses the advanced radio system designed to pack as much data as possible into each signal. As a result, we get a faster speed and efficiency of the network.
It was often marketed as a signal ten times faster than 3G, but in general work, it delivered 4-5 times faster speed, which was still a big upgrade from 3G. However, one significant difference between these technologies is that 4G is an all-IP standard technology, which means 4G even uses the standard IP for voice data.
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5G vs. 4G – Key Differences
There are numerous differences between 5G and 4G. Indeed, I can’t list them all in this single article. However, I tried my best to pick some vital differences that matter in our daily life. So here are some 5G vs. 4G differences which you will love to know:
Speed Comparison – 5G vs. 4G
Whenever we hear about 5G, the very first thing that comes into our head is none other than faster speed. And that actually makes sense as the latest mobile telecom technology is significantly faster than any of its predecessors. But the question is, how much fast internet speed can we expect from 5G, especially compared to 4G.
Currently, 4G is the widely popular cellular network technology that can hit the top speed of up to 100 Mbps. Though that is the theoretical speed, and in real-world conditions, we generally receive around 30-35 Mbps.
5G promises to offer 100 times faster speed than 4G with the theoretically top speed of around 20 Gbps, and the real-world performance for 5G speed would be around 50 Mbps to 3 Gbps. However, there is a tricky part that we need to understand when talking about the speed of the 5G network.
There are many mobile applications and websites available such as SPEEDCheck, to know how faster and stable is your internet connection. I will recommend you to download any internet speed monitor application on your device to check the speed internet speed.
5G technology uses three different network frequency bands, and each of them has its own speed. These three bands are classified as low, mid, and high 5G frequency bands. The low-frequency band operates between 600-850MHz, making it quite similar or a bit faster than 4G. This band can deliver a speed of around 50-250 Mbps.
The mid-frequency band will operate in the range of 2.5 GHz to 3.7 GHz, and most commonly, these bands will be deployed across the globe. This band can deliver a speed of around 100-900 Mbps. The last and the fastest version of 5G will operate at a frequency of 25-39 GHz, making it the fastest possible mobile network technology.
This version can deliver gigabit speed. But sadly, the millimeter-wave transmitters used in this fastest version deliver a very limited range. Therefore, most commonly, we will only see mid-frequency bands in most urban and rural areas.
Signal Transmission Comparison – 5G vs. 4G
Talking about the differences between both these technologies, we can start with the signal transmission technology. 5G uses the new 5G NR interface to utilize a much higher frequency of up to 28 GHz to transfer superfast data with reduced congestion and lower latency.
In comparison, 4G uses the 3G-upgraded wireless radio transmission infrastructure, which works between the radio frequency of 2 GHz to 4 GHz.This way, 5G can transmit way more data in each radio signal.
Device Handling Capacity – 5G vs. 4G
The 5G NR interface also uses a millimeter-wave spectrum that allows more devices to be connected and used within the same area. For example, 4G networks can handle up to 4000 devices per square kilometer, while these numbers for 5G are around a million. This can significantly improve the network strength, internet speed and reduce latency and congestion.
MIMO Technology – 5G vs. 4G
5G also incorporates a new digital technology named Massive MIMO. MIMO stands for multiple-input multiple-output technology that uses multiple beams to spotlight and follow users around their cell network. This technology is an improved version of current technology that operates like floodlights. Current technology illuminates an entire area, but that leads to a lot of wastage of the signal.
This makes 5G a more energy-efficient technology while improving the network’s coverage, speed, and capacity. Additionally, 5G will also benefit IoT, data-driven industries, smart cities, infrastructure management, and other things.
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5G Benefits for businesses
5G can generate more business opportunity
There is no doubt that new technology drives new ideas, and we have seen it with 4G. If 5G can deliver all its promises, it will open the door for many new business models, especially in data-driven and AI-related industries.
Not only that, but due to covid, the online education and distance learning industry was in boom. So 5G can give it a massive boost, and yeah, there are many ways 5G can generate more business opportunities.
Faster and better communication
5G will offer faster speed and low latency across the globe, making it very easy to communicate without worrying about network drop, poor audio or video quality, or anything else. Along with regular people, call centers and business communication will surely benefit from it.
Increased capabilities of IoT
Even though 4G offered decent connectivity for IoT, it was never the perfect option. However, that will not be the case with 5G. 5G is designed to offer faster speed and allow device-to-device communication for up to 1 million devices per square meter.
As a result, 5G will allow businesses to harness the power of IoT in many ways. For example –agriculture farms can use sensors to track the health of their crops and accordingly trigger automated actions such as fertilization, calibrating irrigation, or other things. And note that this is just an example, and possibilities are endless.
Cost Savings
5G is anticipated to be more energy-friendly. If 5G delivers what they have promised, the businesses will save a lot of money that they would have invested in hardware, infrastructure, and other needs.
Along with these, there are so many other ways 5G technology can help businesses.
Wrapping Up
So this was a detailed guide on 5G vs. 4G and how 5G technology will benefit businesses. Even though 5G can bring endless possibilities and benefits for businesses, we need to understand that 5G deployment will not happen overnight. It will be a gradual process and will take the next couple of years to implement completely.
With that said, here I am wrapping up this article. We hope it was helpful to you. If you have any questions, feel free to shoot them in the comment section below, and our team will try to answer them ASAP.
The bottom line
If you are a business owner and want to prepare yourself for 5G technology, we suggest you invest in systems and hardware compatible with the upcoming technology. It will make the transition to 5G much easier for you and prepare you for what’s coming next.