5G x 4G: who wins this technological battle

The 5G vs. 4G debate is raging, and it’s no coincidence. The fifth generation of mobile connection promises to transform the technology market, both for companies and consumers, with significant disruption.

But do you know the main differences between 5G and 4G and why this transition is so important? Let’s explore every detail of these generations and understand how they impact the present and future of connectivity.

What does the G stand for in 5G and 4G?

Before we delve into the differences between 5G and 4G, it’s important to clarify: what does the “G” stand for? The “G” stands for “Generation.” Each technological advance in mobile networks is represented by a new “generation,” which introduces significant changes.

1G: The era of analog voice transmission was extremely limited.
2G: It introduced digital voice transmission and allowed SMS messages to be sent.
3G: It has expanded its capabilities to include internet access and multimedia data exchange.
4G: It brought an exponential increase in connection speed, with support for HD videos and streaming services.
5G: The latest generation, which promises to revolutionize connectivity with unprecedented speeds, low latency and greater capacity.

4G and 4G+: what’s the difference?

4G and 4G+ technologies are part of the fourth generation of mobile networks, but there are important differences. 4G technology, also known as LTE (Long Term Evolution), can reach speeds of up to 150 Mbps. 4G+, or LTE-Advanced, is a more advanced version that can reach up to 450 Mbps in specific areas.

In Brazil, 4G uses 2600 MHz, 1800 MHz and 700 MHz frequencies, and has been widely used to meet connectivity demands in large urban centers.

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks and promises an unprecedented revolution in the way we connect. Its main advantage is its high speed, which can reach 10 Gbps, as well as ultra-low latency and a massive capacity of connected devices.

This new technology is key to the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Edge Computing, as it allows devices to generate and transfer large amounts of data almost in real time.

What’s the difference between 4G and 5G?

The main differences between 4G and 5G are in speed, latency, bandwidth, coverage and infrastructure. Check out the comparisons below.

Infrastructure

4G: It uses an already well-established infrastructure, with little demand for expansion to new antennas.
5G: It requires a significant structural transformation, with the installation of new antennas, especially due to the need for technology such as MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) and RAN components.

In addition, 5G-compatible devices are essential to take advantage of this new network, something that may require the replacement of older devices.

Bandwidth

4G: Operates in bands from 600 MHz to 2.5 GHz, with limited transmission capacity.
5G: uses multiple bands simultaneously, allowing for much greater bandwidth, which makes it possible to connect several devices and applications at the same time.

Coverage

4G: The coverage is already quite extensive and efficient.
5G: Although much faster, the 5G signal is emitted by shorter waves, but much faster. It is expected to take a few years for 5G to reach the same coverage as 4G.

Latency

4G: It has a minimum latency of 50 milliseconds depending on the location.
5G: It promises to drastically reduce latency to 1 millisecond, providing a virtually instant response.

Speed

4G: Up to 450 Mbps under optimal conditions, but the average is 100-150 Mbps.
5G: Can reach speeds of up to 10 Gbps, which represents an increase of up to 20 times compared to 4G.

How is 5G doing worldwide?

According to Bain & Company, 5G could reach more than 2 billion people by 2027, with Brazil as one of the main markets. It is estimated that by this time, 5G will be the choice of more than 40% of subscribers in Europe and the Americas.

In the United States, accelerated spectrum reuse and investment in research and development are driving this technology, which is expected to connect 328 million users by 2027.

In the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, the number of 5G connections is expected to exceed 1 billion, with countries such as India, Japan and Indonesia leading this growth.

What to expect of 6G?

Although 5G is still in the process of being rolled out, discussions about 6G have already begun. 6G is expected to be commercially available around 2030, with significant improvements in terms of speed, latency and connection capacity.

In addition, according to CNN, China has already launched the world’s first 6G satellite, which promises to carry out tests with antenna-free coverage and speeds 50 times faster than 5G.

This technology could further revolutionize connectivity, integrating the physical and digital worlds, with advances in areas such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence and the internet of things.

So, did you enjoy learning all about the differences between 5G and 4G? We hope this content helps you understand the details of both technologies!

And if you want to keep learning about the latest in connectivity, as well as everything about 5G and its influence on business connectivity, just keep an eye on our blog!