4G vs LTE vs 5G? What's the difference?

Summary

This video clarifies the confusion around cellular network generations, explaining the difference between 3G, 4G, LTE, and 5G. It details how 3G was initially slow but improved, and how 4G and LTE (Long-Term Evolution) evolved to deliver faster speeds. The video emphasizes that 5G, while promising extremely fast speeds and low latency, is still in early stages and not yet fully available for mobile use. It also debunks the marketing term '5G E' used by AT&T, which refers to advanced LTE, not actual 5G technology. Ultimately, the video helps viewers understand the complex landscape of cellular technology.

Takeaways

• 😀 5G is unrelated to 5 GHz Wi-Fi. 5G refers to cellular network technology, not the Wi-Fi frequency band.
• 😀 The 'G' in 3G, 4G, and 5G refers to the 'generation' of cellular network technology, indicating advancements in speed, capacity, and latency.
• 😀 3G was initially very slow (200 kbps), but later evolved to offer speeds of up to 20 Mbps, making it more viable for mobile data use.
• 😀 4G was introduced with a theoretical maximum speed of 1 Gbps for download and 500 Mbps for upload, but initial 4G networks didn't meet those specs.
• 😀 The term '4G LTE' was created to describe an intermediate technology that offered faster speeds than 3G but didn’t yet meet the full 4G specification.
• 😀 LTE stands for 'Long-Term Evolution,' and it's a marketing term used for cellular technology that evolved from 3G towards meeting the 4G standard.
• 😀 Despite marketing as '4G LTE,' this technology doesn’t technically meet the full 4G specifications; it’s more of a 3.5G technology.
• 😀 '4G LTE Advanced' (or 4G LTE-A) is a further improvement on LTE, with speeds closer to the true 4G specification, but still commonly marketed as 4G.
• 😀 The term '5G' refers to the fifth generation of cellular technology, with a minimum speed of 1 Gbps and an ideal speed of 20 Gbps, offering much lower latency (1 millisecond).
• 😀 5G's low latency (1 millisecond) enables new applications, like home internet over 5G, which could replace traditional cable broadband in some areas.
• 😀 5G is still in the early stages and currently used mainly for home internet, with mobile phones expected to support it in the near future, around 2020 or later.

Q & A

What does the 'G' in 3G, 4G, and 5G stand for?

The 'G' stands for 'generation,' referring to different generations of cellular network technology, each offering improvements in speed, capacity, and latency.

Is 5G related to 5 GHz Wi-Fi?

No, 5G cellular technology is completely separate from the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band. The term '5G' refers to the fifth generation of cellular networks, while '5 GHz' refers to a frequency band used for Wi-Fi routers.

What was the speed of 3G when it was first introduced?

When 3G was first introduced, it had speeds of around 200 kilobits per second (kbps), which was considered very slow compared to modern speeds.

How did 3G improve over time?

3G technology improved over time, reaching speeds up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps) or more, though it is now considered outdated compared to newer technologies.

What is the difference between 4G and 4G LTE?

4G refers to the fourth generation of cellular networks, which theoretically offers speeds up to 1 Gbps down and 500 Mbps up. However, when 4G first launched, it was unable to meet these speeds, so '4G LTE' (Long-Term Evolution) was introduced as a faster version, though it didn’t fully meet 4G specs.

What is 4G LTE Advanced (LTE-A)?

4G LTE Advanced (or LTE-A) is an improvement on standard 4G LTE that brings speeds closer to the ideal 4G specification, though it still has a minimum speed requirement of 100 Mbps.

Why does AT&T use the term 5G E for its LTE network?

AT&T used the term '5G E' to market its LTE Advanced network as a '5G Evolution,' even though it's not actually 5G. This was a marketing strategy to create the illusion of having 5G speeds, even though the network was still based on 4G technology.

What is the minimum speed requirement for 5G?

To be classified as 5G, a network must provide a minimum speed of 1 Gbps. It also supports speeds up to 20 Gbps, with a very low latency of 1 millisecond.

What new use cases does 5G enable?

5G’s ultra-low latency and high speeds enable new use cases such as wireless home internet, where users can get gigabit speeds without needing traditional fiber or cable lines.

Is 5G available for smartphones yet?

Currently, 5G is primarily available for home internet services in a limited number of cities. Full 5G cellular support for smartphones is expected to roll out in 2020 or later.