Sign in Subscribe

4g 5g bandwidth

Last updated on 


The terms 4G and 5G refer to the fourth and fifth generations of mobile networks, respectively. These networks are designed to provide high-speed wireless communication, but there are significant differences between them, especially in terms of bandwidth.

4G (LTE - Long-Term Evolution):

  1. Frequency Bands:
    • 4G operates in various frequency bands, including 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.3 GHz, and 2.6 GHz, among others.
    • Different bands have different propagation characteristics, affecting coverage and data transfer rates.
  2. Modulation Techniques:
    • 4G uses advanced modulation techniques like Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) to transmit more data in each radio wave.
    • Multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) technology is also employed, using multiple antennas to improve data rates and reliability.
  3. Data Transfer Rates:
    • Theoretical peak download speeds for 4G can reach up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second) under ideal conditions.
    • Real-world speeds are often much lower, ranging from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps or more, depending on network conditions and the user's location.

5G:

  1. Frequency Bands:
    • 5G operates in a broader range of frequency bands, including low-band (sub-1 GHz), mid-band (1 GHz to 6 GHz), and high-band or millimeter-wave (24 GHz and above).
    • High-band frequencies offer extremely high data rates but have shorter range and can be easily blocked by obstacles.
  2. Modulation Techniques:
    • 5G employs more advanced modulation schemes, including higher-order QAM and more sophisticated MIMO configurations.
    • Massive MIMO, where a large number of antennas are used, is a key technology in 5G to improve spectral efficiency.
  3. Data Transfer Rates:
    • Theoretical peak download speeds for 5G can exceed 10 Gbps.
    • Real-world speeds are expected to be significantly higher than 4G, potentially ranging from 100 Mbps to several gigabits per second.

Key Differences:

  1. Latency:
    • 5G aims to achieve significantly lower latency compared to 4G, with target values as low as 1 millisecond.
  2. Capacity and Connection Density:
    • 5G is designed to support a much higher number of connected devices per square kilometer compared to 4G, making it suitable for the Internet of Things (IoT) and other applications.
  3. Network Slicing:
    • 5G introduces the concept of network slicing, allowing the creation of multiple virtual networks within the same physical infrastructure to meet diverse application requirements.

5G offers a substantial increase in bandwidth, lower latency, and enhanced capacity compared to 4G, making it capable of supporting a wide range of applications from enhanced mobile broadband to critical machine-type communication and massive IoT deployments. The specific performance experienced by users will depend on the deployment strategy, frequency bands used, and network infrastructure in a given location.