Although not fully launched yet, 5G has already become the talk of the town, managing to surround itself with some exciting buzz in the world of tech and smartphones. And, we aren’t surprised at all. After all, it promises to change the way we network, communicate, and ultimately, live our lives. This new 5th generation cellular network will pave the way for many new innovations and cool new digitization. Just like us, we’re sure you too look forward to witnessing all the cool things that 5G brings with it!
Now, many new features accompany 5G, but the most talked-about is its speed. We have all probably heard how 5G comes with unprecedented speeds, but what is really the difference between 5G speed and 4G speed? Find yourself asking the same thing? Read on to know the answer to that question and more on 5Gversus4G.
It’s All About The Capacity
Think about all the things that you stream or use your data for in a day. From your YouTube videos to incessant online networking, the list is endless, ain’t it? Now imagine millions of people in the world doing the same. This is data traffic, and sources say that this traffic grows about 60% year-on-year as more and more users stream and utilize the Internet.
In the current scenario, there’s a limit to the information that radio waves can carry. This means that once we reach the limit, speeds may decrease for one person for another person to access higher speeds. However, in 5G, this isn’t the case. 5G brings with it greater capacity and more room. This additional space ensures everyone can access data and use their devices at high speeds. Not only does this increased capacity support better usage of social media and video streaming but also kicks off the development of innovative smart devices.
Increased Connections and Download Speeds
The society we live in today is becoming highly connected. For instance, if you live in a smart or metropolitan city, you’re likely to have your smartphones, home devices, and even cars connected to the Internet! This ever-increasing network and complex infrastructure rely on high speed, and 5G delivers just that. With 10 gigabits per second, 5G is up to 100 times faster than 4G! To put this into perspective, let’s consider the time taken to download a high-definition movie. Over 4G network, it would take approximately 7 to 10 minutes on average to download the movie. But with 5G, it would only take seconds! Now, isn’t that incredible?
See also: Pros and Cons of 5G
Latency
Latency or the time that passes between a user’s action and the resulting response is also an important measure that will help you understand 5G speeds better. With our current 4G networks, the latency rate is 200 milliseconds. Sounds quite good, doesn’t it? But wait for it. With 5G, the latency rate is much lower – at just 1 millisecond!
This unparalleled latency rate is crucial for real-time applications. It will make way for new services and products that are perhaps far beyond our imagination. From connected cars and VR gaming to sensitive projects like remote surgeries and public safety – the possibilities are infinite.
Reports Are In!
In some parts of the world, some people have already begun to experience the 5G phenomena. With companies like Apple and Samsung launching their 5G compatible smartphones, 5G speed reports are coming in from the world over. So far, the reports are a mixed bag where some match the promised speeds while some don’t. But experts say to wait it out. It’s important to keep in mind that the speeds are highly dependent on the network carrier. And these network carriers are constantly making improvements and building a stronger network system as we speak. The result? There has been significant progressive growth, especially in 2021, with improved reports in multiple cities in the US.
Don’t Give Up On 4G, Just Yet.
While network carriers work on improving their existing networks to prepare for 5G, you’ll be happy to hear that you can still access high speeds with your 4G LTE connections. That’s right, wireless carriers have been simultaneously working on 4G networks, making it faster and reliable than ever before. We have said this earlier – 4G isn’t going anywhere. Unlike previous generations of networks, 4G and 5G will coexist and work hand-in-hand to serve better quality high-speed internet to us.
Initially, with the entry of 5G, we’ll still be doing the same things that we do now. But it will all now happen so quickly, almost as quick as the blink of an eye. We cannot wait for the time when we’ll be able to navigate the digital world in an improved, advanced, and not to forget the quickest way. We bet you can’t wait either. Until then, let’s sit tight and wait with bated breath for the 5G revolution!
See also: What Happens to 4G when 5G comes out? | 5G vs 4G Frequency