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5G vs 4G: What's the Difference and Why it Matters?

4G was a great leap in leading people closer to living connected lives. It did pave the way for modern-day innovations. But with 5G, all these aspects and more will multiply exponentially. 

For some people, 5G is just the enhanced version of the usual network generation upgrades. But, if you dive deeper into the technological pool of its understanding, you will realise how broad are its use cases in this decade.

This article will focus on the differences between 4G and 5G networks. Following this, you will understand why 5G is more than a network generation upgrade. 

5G vs 4G: The Definition

4G, or fourth-generation wireless mobile network tech, was released in India in 2012. Back then, it was the leap that changed the fate of cellular technology. It reached prominence within a couple of years of its utilisation. Some of the efficacies that 4G promised and delivered are enhanced VoIP capabilities, cell density and bandwidth. 

After a decade comes the 5G or the fifth generation of wireless cellular network tech. 5G was launched in India in October 2023. The technology boasts faster network speeds and the potential to engage in real-time communications. It allows ODEM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), network slicing and much more. 

5G vs 4G: The Practical Differences

Now that you know the level of these two cellular technologies, it’s time to see how 5G carries forward the legacy of 4G, which promises fast network speeds to consumers. The differences between 5G and 4G include

1. Latency

5G promises an ultra-low latency of <5 milliseconds, whereas 4G promises and delivers low latency between 60 to 80 milliseconds. The purpose of low latency is to advance the download speeds using particular cellular network technologies. 

It means the time taken for the data to reach the source to the destination and vice versa is more in the case of 4G than that of 5G. 

2. Download Speeds

4G showed the world that faster download speeds are possible and introduced the VoIP potential. With its advancements over time, the average download speed it hits is 1 Gbps. With 5G, the goal is to increase the maximum average download speed to around 10 Gbps or more. 

3. Upload Rate

The maximum upload rate for the 4G technology is around 500 Mbps, whereas for 5G, it is around 1.25 Gbps. 

4. Security

5G offers enhanced encryption techniques compared to 4G. This ensures that data transmitted over the network is secure and protected from unauthorised access. 5G uses a stronger and more complex encryption algorithm called 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), whereas 4G uses a 128-bit AES algorithm.

5. Network Slicing

5G allows for network slicing, which means that the network can be divided into multiple virtual networks, each with its own specific security and privacy protocols. This means that different types of data can be prioritised and isolated from each other, enhancing security and privacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Who created 5G?

Answer:

A range of telecommunications companies and international organisations, including Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, Qualcomm, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), developed the 5G technology. However, it's worth noting that 5G is an evolution of previous mobile network technologies rather than an entirely new invention.

Question: How does 5G work?

Answer:

5G works by using higher-frequency radio waves than previous mobile network technologies, which enables faster data transfer speeds and greater network capacity. 5G also uses advanced antenna technology, such as massive MIMO (multiple input, multiple outputs) and beamforming, to improve signal strength and reduce interference.

Question: Will 5G work on 4G phones?

Answer:

No, 5G requires specific hardware and infrastructure to work. So it won't be compatible with 4G phones or other devices. However, some newer 4G phones may be capable of receiving software updates that enable certain 5G features, such as faster download speeds.

Question: Are 5G plans more expensive?

Answer:

5G plans may be more expensive than 4G plans, depending on the carrier and the specific features and benefits included. However, pricing and availability will vary depending on the market and the level of competition among carriers.

Question: How fast is 5G speed compared to 4G?

Answer:

5G speeds are much faster than 4G speeds, with some estimates suggesting that 5G networks could deliver peak speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second (Gbps) in ideal conditions. By contrast, 4G networks typically deliver peak speeds of around 1 Gbps. However, the actual speed will depend on a variety of factors. These include the strength of the signal, the number of devices on the network, and the type of application or service used.

Conclusion

So, this brief insight into the 4G and 5G arena explains how proficient the fifth-generation cellular network is about to be. People have undoubtedly leveraged the potential of 4G networks for a long time. 

But, with the constant scaling of technological advancements in sectors such as IoT, AR, AI, VR and others, 5G is the leading upgrade that the world needs. Soon, a wide range of next-generation internet-centric applications will make their way into people’s lives. 

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