5G vs. 4G: What's the difference?

The third generation (3G) was introduced to the market in 2001 and ushered in wireless capabilities that we use to this day. 3G brought smartphone tech that allowed us to browse the web, share pictures, download videos, and perform other functions that had been impossible before.

Service providers had lofty goals for this generation. They sought to provide full communication, more extensive data potential, elevated data delivery, and the broadest range of applications in history. Most importantly, they aimed to provide all this at the lowest cost to their customers. They achieved these goals through the development of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, a network infrastructure that combined the best elements of 2G with the newer technologies of 3G.

The jump between the third and fourth generations of network connectivity was the largest the industry had ever seen. The transition from 3G to 4G likely could not have been accomplished without the technological breakthroughs in varying industries over the prior decade. These technologies have shaped various iterations of the 4G technology, the best known of which is 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution). The flexibility and reliability offered by these technologies were previously unparalleled, and many industries immediately saw the benefits of being part of a much faster network.  

The most significant takeaway from this fourth generation is that it turned our smartphones into powerful computers that could fit in our pockets. This monumental step forward was achieved by the introduction of HD streaming and accelerated web browsing, which we now take for granted. Much of the work that we perform on desktop or laptop computers can be performed on a smartphone. Thanks to 4G technologies, we can maintain a stable connection from almost anywhere we’re working with minimal amounts of latency. 

What will 5G enable?

Reduced latency will be the key differentiating factor between 4G and 5G. This alone will be enough to entice many of the world’s largest industries to adopt the network as quickly as possible. Some industry experts predict that 5G will eventually power smart cities and other large-scale projects, so let’s consider how such new technology might affect consumers across the globe:

• Healthcare. Healthcare providers can create sensor networks to track patients and share information faster than ever before.
• Infrastructure. Better communication means more efficient travel and distribution of goods and services across the globe.
• Public safety. A vast network and rapid response times mean that public works can respond to incidents and emergencies in seconds rather than minutes, and municipalities can react fast and with reduced costs.
• Autonomous vehicles. 5G will allow vehicles to communicate between themselves and with infrastructure on the road, improving safety and alerting drivers to travel conditions and performance information.

When can we expect 5G?

Many industry experts will tell you that 5G has already arrived. That said, most consumers won’t have access to the full breadth of 5G’s potential until the low-band spectrum is made available sometime in 2020.

Service providers are centering the initial rollout of the technology around densely populated areas and major cities. The introduction of 5G technology into the mass consumer market will likely be a slow process. Don’t expect an overnight switch. Every day, though, consumers can expect to see more features made possible by this new technology introduced into their lives.