If your organization is looking for a better network connection, you should know the differences between 4G and 5G to understand which technology is more appropriate to meet your telecom needs.
If your organization utilizes 4G technology, this article will help you understand the differences between 4G and 5G. Understanding these differences will help you determine if your organization should upgrade to 5G technology.
Coeo has helped thousands of customers with their network connectivity and knows how important a reliable network is to an organization’s productivity.
We want to give you information on the differences between 4G and 5G technology so you can determine which technology is right for your organization.
By the end of this article, you will know what 4G is, what 5G is, and the differences between the two.
What is 4G?
Fourth generation or 4G technology is the previous version of mobile network technology which was the most innovative and latest technology throughout the 2010s.
4G brought an increasing number of smartphones and the improvement of service to cellular users.
4G technology also helped improve the early stages of remote work. However, the increase in the number of smartphones and the increase in remote workers required faster network speeds resulting in the emergence of 5G technology.
What is 5G?
Fifth-generation (5G) internet is the latest iteration of cellular technology; an update from 4G. This technology is engineered to increase the speed and reliability of mobile network technology.
Data transmitted over 5G internet using a wireless broadband connection can travel at multigigabit speeds. Potential peak speeds while using 5G internet can reach as high as 20 gigabits per second.
4G, on the other hand, will reach lower speeds at up to 50 megabits per second. This is of course slower than 5G making it hard to be productive during the workday when trying to use the internet.
The faster 5G speeds allow you to load pages significantly quicker and result in improved call quality with fewer call breakups and drops than prior technology.
However, not every technology and organization has adopted the updated technology although more 5G networks and services are expected to be deployed in stages over the next several years.
The objective for this deployment will be to accommodate the ongoing and increasing reliance on internet-based mobile devices.
Over the next few years, 5G is expected to release a variety of new applications using 5G connectivity for both residential and business use.
Differences between 4G and 5G technology
Because of the evolution of updated technology, there are some differences between the two technologies. These differences include:
● Speed
With this updated technology, 5G speeds are much faster than 4G which allows your network to send and receive data more quickly. This results in faster load page times and a better user experience when connected to the internet.
Many organizations have VoIP phone systems that are connected to the cloud allowing them to make and receive calls over the internet.
With faster internet speeds, you will have a better user experience when using your VoIP phone system and experience fewer call drops and call breakups.
● Latency
The next difference between the two technologies is latency. Similar to the differences in speed, the time it takes for data to travel will also result in the latency your organization is likely to experience.
Latency is described as the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another. Typically, customers want low latency; as close to zero as possible.
With 5G, faster speeds will result in lower latency while 4G will typically result in higher latency.
High latency happens when data packets do not arrive in a timely fashion or take longer than normal while low latency means data packets arrive quickly and efficiently from one point to another.
High latency is easily noticed and can dramatically affect the user experience whether it’s browsing the internet or participating on a video or voice call.
Increased web page load times unloadable pages, interrupted audio or video streams, as well as unloadable applications, can all be signs of high latency.
Voice call latency will make voice calls sound robotic or like you’re in a tunnel, may drop the audio, or even disconnect the call altogether.
Similarly, video call latency can cause frozen pictures, pixelated video, or a delay in audio where the audio and video do not align.
● Availability
Today, 4G is still the more prevalent technology since not every organization and service provider has broadly moved to 5G
However, just like with any technological update, 5G will become the dominant technology over time. It won’t be long before nearly every organization is using 5G and every provider is offering it.
Next steps to migrating to 5G technology
Now you know what 4G is, what 5G is, and the differences between the two technologies.
This will allow you to determine if your organization should invest in a technology upgrade and integrate 5G into your network if you haven’t already done so.
No one wants to have a poor-performing network.
If your network uses outdated technology, it may not perform as well as it should and your organization may have difficulty accessing the internet which could lead to poor production and poor efficiency as a result.
Coeo has helped thousands of customers with their network connectivity and knows how important a reliable network is to an organization.
We want you to know the differences between 4G and 5G technology so you can determine if your organization needs to upgrade to 5G.
If you would like to speak with our team to learn more about 5G technology or ask any questions you may have you can schedule an appointment.
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