1. Speed:
“LTE vs 5G” 5G offers significantly faster speeds compared to LTE. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recommended in 2008 that LTE networks achieve data throughput of up to 1 Gb/s under ideal low-mobility conditions. However, actual data rates can be affected by factors like network congestion and spectrum bandwidth. The new 5G standard outlined in the ITU’s IMT-2020 report increases download rates to a minimum of 100 Mb/s and potentially up to 20 Gb/s.
Recent tests by Verizon’s 5G home internet and AT&T have shown speeds ranging from 300 Mb/s to 940 Mb/s and around 1.2 Gb/s, respectively. 5G will utilize various technologies, including beamforming, to achieve gigabit bandwidth rates, while dynamic time-division duplex (TDD) will be used to optimize data transfer trajectories. In comparison, 4G LTE theoretically can reach download speeds of up to 150Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50Mbps. Still, real-world factors often result in lower speeds, typically around 20Mbps for downloads and 10Mbps for uploads.
2. Latency:
“LTE vs 5G” 5G boasts lower latency compared to LTE, with the 5G standard aiming to significantly reduce downloading latency to 4 milliseconds for phones and one millisecond for devices like self-driving cars, which rely on ultra-reliable low-latency connectivity – about ten times faster than LTE’s ten milliseconds. This reduced latency opens up a wide array of applications, from cellular and home video downloads to large-scale automated vehicle interactions. The IEEE Access document “Business Case and Technology Analysis for 5G Low Latency Applications” outlines four critical use cases where ultra-low latency technologies provide significant advantages: remote medical services, assisted driving and transportation, entertainment content distribution, and factory automation. The main difference between 4G and 5G lies in latency; 4G lags in this aspect, crucial for applications like gaming and potentially vital for self-driving cars, where quick data transmission can prevent accidents.
3. Capacity:
“LTE vs 5G” 5G offers greater capacity compared to LTE, thanks to its utilization of frequency ranges, including millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands alongside lower spectrum ranges. This distinguishes 5G from LTE, providing extensive bandwidth and addressing network congestion issues. Despite some bandwidth being shared with LTE systems. 5G networks can support up to a million devices per square kilometer, compared to 4G’s capacity for one-tenth of that. Some providers utilize millimeter waves (FR2 in 5G terms) to enhance capacity and bandwidth. With a projected 100x improvement in network capacity and efficiency over 4G LTE, 5G promises a 40% increase in average per-user traffic capacity. Investments in mmWave bands by the wireless industry leverage the sizeable available bandwidth. And spatial degrees of freedom enabled by high-dimensional antenna arrays, as highlighted in a 2017 IEEE Xplore paper.
4. Pervasive:
“LTE vs 5G” Unlike LTE, 5G is designed to be pervasive, with significantly more extensive and more consistent coverage. This is achieved through the dense installation of smaller antenna components, leading to reduced land masses per transmitter or cell. One of the critical goals of 5G is to ensure a smoother user experience, with a minimum internet speed of 100 Mb/s expected in dense urban areas. A significant improvement over LTE’s average speed of 16.31 Mb/s in the United States in 2018. This ubiquity relies on low spectrum frequencies for rural regions and high-band spectrum for intelligent cities. 5G has become a platform for ubiquitous connectivity, integrating various communication systems and enabling the spread of cognitive processes such as artificial intelligence (A.I.) capabilities. Experts anticipate that 5G will drive a digital revolution. Disrupting traditional value chains and environments across all industries, not just the communication sector.
5. Frequency:
“LTE vs 5G” The 5G spectrum encompasses radio frequencies ranging from 30 GHz to 300 GHz. While LTE operates within the sub-6 GHz range and includes millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequencies starting from 24.25 GHz. In the 5G spectrum, these frequencies facilitate the transmission of information from user equipment (U.E.) through cellular base stations to their destination. LTE systems operate at sub-6 GHz frequencies and will continue to coexist with 5G services. Lower frequency bands will be used in less densely populated areas, as data can travel further, albeit at slower speeds, on these frequencies.
To utilize the newly available mmWave spectrum, 5G networks will employ the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-standardized 5G new radio technology. These high frequencies offer several advantages, including high throughput for rapid transmission. They are less congested with existing mobile data, allowing for increased bandwidth requirements in the future, and they are omnidirectional. Meaning they can be used alongside other wireless signals without causing interference. This contrasts with LTE towers, which transmit data in all directions, potentially wasting energy and power by beaming radio waves at locations that do not require an internet connection.
6. Availability:
In the past decade, the ITU-R has introduced new standards and technologies, with 5G being the latest or 5th Generation. While 5G has been rolled out across many areas, it is more readily available in urban areas. Outside of city limits, your phone may still rely on LTE. LTE networks will remain accessible for the foreseeable future, filling in service gaps where 5G is unavailable. Due to ongoing implementation, not all types of 5G networks are currently accessible everywhere, unlike LTE. In densely populated areas, faster options may be available, but in many cities and towns, only slower connections, or none at all, may be accessible. This means that even if you have a 5G phone. You may not be able to access next-generation service in many regions.
7. Complexity:
One significant difference between 5G and earlier mobile network generations like LTE is complexity. 5G networks are notably more intricate due to their utilization of higher frequencies. Resulting in smaller coverage areas per section and requiring more antennas and equipment spread across numerous locations. The tools needed to handle the anticipated capacity increase. Some weighing hundreds of kilograms and covering tens of square meters per sector per operator, further contribute to this complexity. Integrating the physical and I.T. infrastructure, particularly on existing towers and rooftops, poses challenges in terms of spatial, structural, and wind-loading considerations.
Additionally, various factors contribute to 5G’s complexity compared to LTE. Including the broader range of use cases covered and the network’s design. While LTE features a straightforward design as an evolution of universal mobile telecommunications service (UMTS), 5G introduces new elements such as N.R. (new radio) for the air interface and NG-RAN (next-generation RAN) for the new radio access network. The 5G system encompasses 5GS for a broader system concept and 5GC to connect disparate systems. At the same time, NG-RAN includes enhanced LTE versions and 5G N.R.. Reflecting the evolution and expansion of network technologies to support advanced use cases and connectivity requirements.
8. Security Measures:
5G offers more robust security measures compared to LTE, recognizing the increased application potential alongside heightened risks. As 5G implementation expands private mobile networks and third-party network access, the proliferation of options for hackers necessitates stringent network security levels. In response, the E.U. encourages collaboration among suppliers, network operators, and regulators to identify and implement solutions to mitigate these risks.
Building upon the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Regulation (ePR), which prioritize data protection and privacy in electronic communications. Respectively, measures such as data encryption and the use of 5G SIM cards contribute to user privacy protection. Looking ahead, 5G signifies more than just faster internet; it means new connectivity levels and increased trust across various systems. However, as cloud, data, and IoT-related cyber threats converge with 5G. There are potentially higher security risks to address, underscoring the necessity for more stringent 5G security measures compared to LTE.
9. Network Slicing:
Previous generations of networks like 2G, 3G, and 4G offered similar services to all users. Requiring the construction of new physical networks or cumbersome virtual private networks (VPNs) for specific applications like emergency services. However, with the introduction of network slicing in 5G, this paradigm is shifting. 5G brings significant advancements in network speed, data throughput, low latency, and ultra-reliability. Allowing operators to offer new services while leveraging the same physical network. Network slicing enables the creation of multiple virtual networks or slices tailored to different application needs. Generating new revenue opportunities at scale through automation.
For instance, Huawei collaborated with Vodafone to slice the operator’s fiber-to-the-home network in Ireland. Demonstrating how network slicing combined with virtual customer premise technologies can serve both enterprise and residential consumers. Similarly, Swisscom and Ericsson showcased network slicing on the Swiss operator’s 4G network to enhance critical communications for public safety agencies. These developments over the past three years highlight the increasing carrier interest in network slicing, with 5G offering superior capabilities compared to LTE. However, similar functionalities are achievable with the latter.
10. Price and Availability:
As expected, unlimited 5G rates tend to be more expensive than LTE rates, based on data from operators reported by Statista in 2021. The average monthly charge for 5G is around $89, compared to $68 for LTE. The average monthly cost difference between unlimited 5G and LTE plans ranges from $5 to $72. To prevent misuse, operators may impose data limitations or throttle speeds after a certain amount of data usage. These differences in pricing may be attributed to various extras offered by operators. And they may also impose fixed data restrictions or speed reductions to curb excessive consumption.
