When 4G launched in 2009, it made way for revolutionary change in the way people use mobile phones. From significantly faster data rates, lower latency, and wider network coverage, the 4th generation of cellular networks is still utilised by more than half of mobile phone users today.
Fast forward to today, and we have the fifth generation of wireless technology - 5G. Arguably even better than its predecessor, 5G delivers record-breaking speeds to phones and devices and is paving the way for a future of IoT growth and automation.
In this article, we look into the pros & cons of both 4G and 5G networks to understand the differences between the two and what these key differentiators mean to consumers and businesses globally.
What is 4G?
4G is the fourth generation of mobile network technology, following the 2G and 3G networks that came before it. 4G was introduced to the public in 2009 and was designed to accommodate a larger volume of cellular devices along with data-heavy internet uses such as streaming music, games, and videos. Unlike 5G, 4G wasn’t designed with the Internet of Things (IoT) in mind. It was simply built to provide a better and more reliable smartphone service to consumers.
Pros of 4G
There are many benefits of 4G, even today with the addition of the 5G network 4G still has many advantages for consumers and businesses including:
- Fast speeds: The 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) offers a typical download speed of 20Mbps and a theoretical download speed of 150Mbps, allowing you to download a 500MB file in under 4 minutes.
- Reliable network coverage: 4G allows for greater network traffic
- Accessible: 4G is available in more than 100 countries, with global 4G population coverage reaching 85% of the world by the end of 2021. This is forecasted to reach 97% by 2027.
- Affordable: 4G prices are more affordable and are supported by more devices. 4G also enables flexible working arrangements which can reduce operational costs for businesses.
- Broader coverage: 4G has broader coverage, reaching more rural and remote communities.
Cons of 4G
Here are some reasons why 4G may be viewed as a disadvantage to consumers:
- Drains battery faster: 4G mobile networks uses multiple antennae and transmitters, resulting in poorer battery life.
- Loaded networks: Since 4G is still the most used network, this can cause higher traffic leading to slower speeds.
- Higher latency: 4G experiences higher latency, from 60ms to 98ms compared to 5Gs 5ms.
- Not as capable as handling IoT tech: 4G wasn’t designed to be IoT-ready. It also has a higher module cost and uses more power than 5G.
- Will eventually be “phased out”: Frequencies are being moved from 4G to 5G, leaving less 4G coverage over time.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of cellular network technology, uncovering more advantages than its predecessor. 5G runs on radio frequencies the same as in our smartphones. 5G promises faster download speeds, lower latency and will usher in new opportunities and innovation, particularly within AI and IoT. 5G home internet began in 2018, with 5G ultra wideband rolling out a year later in 2019.
There has been a lot of hype surrounding the 5G mobile network rollout. So, is it worth investing in a 5G mobile plan as opposed to 4G? Read on to find out.
Pros of 5G
5G promises some huge advantages to consumers and aims to not only surpass 4G but exceed in all areas including speed, latency, and connectivity.
- Higher speeds: 5G is faster than 4G, allowing users to download big files in seconds rather than minutes. With potential speeds of up to 20 Gbps, it is 100 times faster than that of 4G and 4G LTE.
- Lower latency: One trial has shown that 5G latency can be less than 5 milliseconds. This lower latency will allow for more smoother streaming and gaming and the ability to support new applications like IoT and AI for real-time connectivity.
- Increased capacity: 5G has the capacity to deliver up to 100 times more capacity than 4G.
- More bandwidth: 5G will have more bandwidth than 4G, ensuring faster data transfers and internet connection.
- Less congestion: 4G mobile towers often experience high traffic, resulting in slower speeds and temporary blackouts. 5G allows users to avoid this with its higher bandwidth and faster speeds.
Cons of 5G
Even though 5G is the latest innovation in mobile network technology, it falls short in some areas.
- Limited coverage: As it’s still in the early stages of rollout, 5G isn’t as widely available as 4G. At the moment, only major cities can benefit from 5G.
- Must use a 5G-enabled device: To access the benefits associated with 5G, you need to have a 5G device. This can prove to be costly and not as accessible for most people.
- Subpar upload speeds: 5G ensures faster download speeds than 4G. However, the upload speeds are not over 100Mbps when compared to 4G. Users have also reported hotter devices and battery depletion when uploading large files.
- Cybersecurity risks: There are concerns that increased connectivity and speeds are making it easier for cyberhackers to find and exploit vulnerabilities. 5G is also managed by software which makes it more vulnerable to cyberattacks than 4G.
- Shorter broadcast distance: 5G cannot travel as far as 4G, and objects such as trees and structures will block its high frequency. In order to combat this, more 5G towers need to be installed for even coverage which may take years to do.
To sum up
Comparing the pros & cons of 4G and 5G mobile networks can help you make more informed decisions, either as a consumer or a business owner. While there is much to be excited about with the new 5G network, its predecessor still has a lot to offer. And at this early stage, 5G isn’t a replacement for 4G. However, once 5G becomes more widely established, it will provide many advantages and opportunities that will likely exceed all expectations.
Wipro offers holistic, trustworthy, and resilient connected 5G security solutions, addressing increased 5G network security, to develop intrinsic security of products
While the moves to 4G from 3G was one little advance for technology, the progress to 5G from 4G speaks to a quantum jump in how network ecosystems will work.
The move to 5G will reshape our world by making new developments and a huge wellspring of chances for the mobile industry and beyond.The most discernible difference for end users of mobile devices connected to 5G networks will be a faster experience- potentially 10 times faster than 4G.
That implies altogether decreased system latency, much faster download times, and the ability to associate and serve the billions of internet of Things (IoT) devices that organizations and consumers will convey in the coming years.5G is expected that would make a huge number of employees globally, with mobile application developers recognized as one of the core career groupings that remain to benefit, alongside framework and content providers.Maybe most fundamentally, 5G will fill in as a springboard for accelerated innovation in application classifications where marketers and developers are profoundly contributed: Artificial Intelligence, IoT, AR/VR, and business apps.How is 5G technology better than 4G?
*Greater wireless capacity to enable more devices to connect on an IoT network*A uniform experience with more prominent assortment of coverage option and condition*5G opens the aviation routes for more internet-enabled tech where 4G will fail at providing all the data needs to a growing number of mobile devices like remote sensors, smart traffic lights, mobile wearables, and car-to-car communication.What about speed?An incredible aspect regarding 5G technology is just how much faster it is.
In current advancement, 5G is achieving the speed that is 20 times faster than 4G LITE.
4G LITE has a peak speed of 1GB/ sec; 5G can accomplish speeds of 20GB/sec.
The 5G Communications Market size was valued at USD 41.2 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 42.1% from 2021 to 2030.
5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks, succeeding 2G, 3G and 4G technologies.In the digital era, information technology and communications are two of the most essential issues.
New services, businesses, and start-ups emerge, disrupting the market's existing order.
Markets, businesses, and the government all need to adjust to these developments.
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry is a key facilitator of economic growth and a key driver of the global digital economy's future development.
Cloud-based technology and automation will drive a greater percentage of technology expenditure towards emerging capabilities like AI, robots, and augmented reality, fuelled in part by cost reductions.Continuous modernisation and increased access to cloud-based services have fuelled the business industry's shift towards innovation and growth rather than cost reduction.The cloud has reached the mainstream market thanks to a surge in consumer demand for flexible pay-as-you-go models and major IT businesses integrating expensive cloud-based technologies with corporate systems.As a result, high-end technologies like AI and IoT, which were previously only available to a select few major enterprises and creative startups, are now available to a wide spectrum of small, medium, and large businesses.The future of the IT sector will certainly be shaped by automation.
With the rise in internet of things (IoT) and connectivity generating unimaginable amount of data, 4G network and speeds are going to become obsolete and it will be mandatory for large corporations, banks, and financial institutions to upgrade their infrastructure to adapt to the upcoming 5G reign.
As per a market research report published on the official website of market intelligence firm, Research on Global Markets, the global 5G market is expected to reach a value of USD 277 Bn by 2025 expanding at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 111% year on year during the period of 2019 to 2025.
Once the 5G network is up and running, internet speed and network latency are going to be so productive that all anyone will need to connect with the internet is a mobile phone and begin streaming high speed internet connectivity.
The revolution it is going to bring in this semi connected world of today is unimaginable.
It will take less than 1 millisecond for games like PUBG that face a latency of 10 milliseconds.
Its an extraordinary feat for competitive gaming.
