5G vs 4G: what’s the difference?

Why is there so much excitement about 5G technology? And why is it such a significant upgrade on 4G?

Connectivity has evolved dramatically since it first emerged in the 1990s. It has gone from merely providing access to the internet to powering complex infrastructures—leading to the creation of transformational new services. For example, urban planners are now creating smart cities using Internet of Things (IoT) devices to connect everything from smartphones, homes, and cars to traffic systems and even garbage collection vehicles.

These vast and complex networks require high performance levels in speed, latency, and reach. Until now, service providers have had to rely on established wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G LTE. But all these options come with performance trade-offs. Things are different with 5G.

5G: Up to 100 Times Faster Than 4G

In the right conditions, 5G download speeds can reach 10 gigabits per second, up to 100 times faster than 4G. This performance level is critical for an increasingly connected society.

Even today, with 5G still evolving, speeds are lightning fast. For example, AT&T’s 5G Plus network achieves typical download speeds of 150 Mbps, enabling users to download a full-length movie in under 30 seconds. On a 4G network, this would take over 50 minutes on average.

However, connectivity requirements vary depending on usage. Streaming a film to a smartphone demands different levels of speed and latency than remotely controlling a connected car. To support disruptive new use cases for fast connectivity, enterprises need more control over their network speed and security. 4G cannot deliver this. 5G can. This is thanks to a feature known as network slicing.

5G and Network Slicing

Standalone 5G represents a significant shift from previous cellular networks. Its infrastructure is cloud-based and virtual, with many key elements driven by software rather than hardware. This enables telcos to create customized slices—effectively autonomous private networks tailored to specific requirements. Each slice can be optimized for speed, capacity, coverage, encryption, and security. Imagine the 5G network as a building where each apartment has a unique key. Access to these private networks can be controlled by a specific slice SIM (sSIM) which can be stored in any 5G SIM. 

Latency: 5G’s Competitive Edge

5G’s superior performance isn’t just about speed; it’s also about latency—the delay between sending information and receiving a response. For 4G, latency averages 50 milliseconds. For 5G, it’s just 1 millisecond. This leap is transformative for developing new services and devices. For example, in connected cars, latency determines the gap between pressing “stop” and the moment a remotely driven vehicle brakes. Low latency makes Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication possible.

But there are many more verticals in which low latency could have a huge impact. These include virtual-reality gaming, remote surgical operations and translation services. In other words, IoT and 5G make a perfect combination. The low latency and high speeds of 5G make it ideal for managing IoT ecosystems in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. For instance, in industrial IoT, 5G’s capabilities enable real-time monitoring and control of factory equipment, improving efficiency and safety.

5G also means more security and regulations

With increased opportunity comes increased risk. 5G will see the wider deployment of private mobile networks and increased network access on the part of third-party suppliers, all of which increase the number of opportunities for hackers. For these reasons, the deployment of 5G must come with the correct security levels to enable trust. This is why regulators are calling for a dialogue between vendors, network operators, and regulators to find and implement solutions to mitigate these risks.

In the EU, for example, stakeholders will be affected by the ePrivacy Regulation (ePR). It was intended to take effect alongside the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in 2018. While GDPR aims to protect personal data, the ePR focuses on privacy and the pseudonymization and encryption of personal information. As of 2022, the final text of the ePR is still to be agreed. However, the good news is that 5G connectivity does provide an in-built level of protection to service providers. This is thanks to the 5G SIM, which encrypts and stores sensitive critical data inside a tamper-resistant Secure Element. It’s a little like a bank vault, and it’s highly impregnable. Every previous mobile network upgrade has been mostly about faster internet. 5G is different. Yes, it will speed up connectivity for smartphone owners. But, more important, it will power transformative new services across a range of verticals. And it will couple super-fast speeds with enhanced security. 
 

6G on the Horizon

While 5G adoption accelerates, the industry is already looking ahead to 6G, expected to launch by 2030. 6G will build on 5G’s capabilities, introducing features like holographic communication and even faster data speeds. For telcos, the opportunity is unprecedented. By investing in 5G now, they not only cater to today’s needs but also pave the way for the connected future of tomorrow.