In a perfect world, each generation would improve on the best qualities of its predecessor and thrive in ways the previous generation could not. In a sense, new generations respond to problems caused by older generations.
This is particularly relevant for generations of mobile networking and cellular technology. In the case of 4G and 5G, 5G not only exceeds 4G network capabilities, but also aims to meet and exceed 4G’s goals in terms of general speed, latency, and density.
The 4G era has seen innovations in various networking trends, including the growth of the Internet of Things, the rise of smartphones, and a remote and mobile workforce. These trends continued throughout the 2010s, creating a need to support higher speeds and increased cell density. Experts hope that the latest generation of 5G will address the problems that arose with 4G.
As organizations consider 5G, they need to understand the differences between 4G and 5G network architectures and determine how both architectures will impact business operations. In this feature, we take a deep dive into these differences and explain what these key differentiators mean for organizations around the world.
Differences between LTE, 4G and 5G
4G
4G is the fourth generation of mobile network technology and the predecessor of 5G. In the 2010s, 4G reigned as the latest and most innovative generation of cellular technology, reaching widespread adoption within a decade. 4G’s promises include increased cell density, improved VoIP capabilities, and increased bandwidth.
LTE
LTE was developed as a 4G standard during the 4G era. LTE is the golden global standard for wireless broadband and establishes the foundation for 5G networks. Both 4G and LTE support different types of traffic, which was difficult with previous generations and should be improved on with 5G.
5G
5G is the latest generation of mobile phone network technology. Although small-scale early deployments began in the late 2010s, carriers are still developing their 5G infrastructure. 5G benefits include faster network speeds and real-time communication capabilities.
How does 5G work?
5G comes with a variety of new capabilities, including network slicing, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), and massive multiple inputs and multiple outputs.
5G also introduces another new standard called 5G New Radio (5G NR) that aims to replace LTE. 5G NR builds on the best features of LTE and brings new benefits such as improved energy savings and enhanced connectivity for connected devices.
5G can also operate in a new radio frequency spectrum, millimeter wave (mmWave), whereas 4G LTE has wavelengths below 6 GHz. Millimeter waves operate at wavelengths between 30 GHz and 300 GHz. Because of the mmWave spectrum, new small cell base stations are required for 5G to operate and function.
The main differences between 4G and 5G network architectures are:
- waiting time.
- Potential download speed.
- base station.
- OFDM encoding.
- Cell density.
Compare latency, speed, and bandwidth
latency
The biggest difference between 4G and 5G is latency. 5G can deliver low latency of less than 5ms, while 4G’s latency ranges from 60ms to 98ms. Lower latency also brings advances in other areas, such as faster download speeds.
potential download speed
While 4G introduced various VoIP features, 5G builds on and enhances the promise of potentially faster download speeds. While 4G download speeds reached 1 Gbps, 5G’s goal is to reach 10 times that, with a maximum download speed of 10 Gbps.
base station
Another major difference between 4G and 5G is the base stations required to transmit the signal. Like previous generations, 4G transmits signals from cell phone base stations. However, because 5G uses small cell technology with faster speeds and mmWave frequency bands, carriers can deploy high-band 5G in pizza box-sized small cells in multiple locations. I am. 5G still uses cell towers in the low frequency spectrum as well.
Operators need to deploy small cells in different areas due to mmWave frequencies. The frequency of millimeter waves is higher than previous cell phone technology, but the signal is weaker over shorter distances. Small base stations must be frequently placed in his 5G-enabled area to ensure that the signal reaches users and businesses.
OFDM encoding
OFDM splits different radio signals into separate channels to avoid interference and provide greater bandwidth. Because OFDM encodes data on different frequencies, 4G and 5G networks have their own signaling channel instead of a shared channel, which increases download speeds for these networks. 4G uses up to 20 MHz channels, while 5G uses 100 MHz to 800 MHz channels.
cell density
Small cell technology allows 5G to increase cell density and improve network capacity. These were also his promises for 4G, but 4G completely missed its high goals for general speed, so 5G may succeed where its predecessor fell short. The increased density of 5G networks means more capacity to support more users and connected devices, leading to increased mobile device and connectivity capacity.
Despite 5G’s advances, some of its promises remain unfulfilled. Carriers are taking their time to iron out the flaws and complexities that 5G will create. Network engineer Lee Budman said organizations shouldn’t expect the best right away.
5G expectations and reality
Initial technical promises are not necessarily guaranteed. Organizations that want to evaluate the differences between 4G and 5G in network architecture should take a step back and consider what 4G promises, what 4G actually delivers, and what that means for the reality of 5G. need to do it. Badman says caution is important because in the real world, goals don’t always come true.
For example, one of the goals for 4G was to reach common speeds from 100Mbps to 1Gbps, Badman said. In reality, these speeds averaged between 7 Mbps and 43 Mbps. This doesn’t mean 4G is bad or that the original goal was impossible. Rather, these goals set the foundation for what 5G should and can accomplish. For example, 5G’s download speed and low latency goals are an extension of 4G’s original goals.
However, 5G has not achieved all its goals in the first few years. These results may take years or never materialize. It’s important for organizations and network teams to understand that the promise and reality of 4G and 5G are mutually exclusive. Nevertheless, 5G has the potential to enhance operations and address shortcomings that 4G failed to address. How 5G will enable this in a long-term, global manner remains to be seen.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published by Michaela Goss and has been updated by our editors to reflect changes in the industry and improve the reader experience.
