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While the latter has been heralded as the technology of the future, knowing the points of difference between 4G vs 5G is important for buying any new devices.
Once upon a time, the first commercial cellular network, the 1G generation, was launched in Japan by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) in 1979, initially in the metropolitan area of Tokyo. Within five years, the NTT network had been expanded to cover the whole population of Japan and became the first nationwide 1G network.
Fast forward forty years, and the world’s fifth cellular network, 5G, is now in the process of being rolled out on a global scale. Marketed as up to one hundred times faster than its predecessor 4G, 5G is creating never-before-seen opportunities for people and businesses alike. With faster connectivity speeds, ultra-low latency and greater bandwidth, this new technology is transforming industries and dramatically enhancing day-to-day experiences.
Services once viewed as ultra futuristic, such as e-health, connected vehicles and traffic systems and advanced mobile cloud gaming, are well and truly here – but is the difference between 4G and 5G really that monumental?
When 3G first arrived on the global market, it was a big deal. As the first generation to make mobile internet faster, easier and more reliable, its ability to transmit more data enabled touch-screen smartphones to go mainstream.
In contrast, 4G took the existing technology and ‘levelled up’. With a focus on permitting enough data to enable internet based voice and video calls, 4G offered speeds ten times faster than 3G, and supported more intensive data activity such as high-definition video streaming. Now, the rollout of 5G has been designed for even faster internet speeds, more network capacity, and to enable technology such as smart homes, artificial intelligence and connected vehicles.
While 5G will ultimately succeed 4G, it will not replace it – for now. Both 4G and 5G networks will continue to exist simultaneously, but like previous generations, 5G is not a single product. Instead, it is an industry standard against which telecommunications companies – also known as carriers – roll out 5G technology with equipment that uses radio waves.
As the main telecommunications provider in Australia, it’s worth noting that Telstra’s 5G network now covers over 75% of the population, with the goal of hitting 95% of the population in 2025. While coverage currently spans across Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart, regional and rural areas are also on the list in the years ahead.
To understand the key difference between 4G and 5G, the latter’s networks have higher bandwidths, and are as such more reliable than other mobile networks. 5G will use large scale MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) antennas that have very large numbers of antenna elements or connections in order to send and receive more data simultaneously.
In theory, the big differences between 4G and 5G are speed, latency, and bandwidth. While users should currently be able to get 4G speeds of 50Mbps in metro Australia, the rollout of 5G will see this figure expand to over 500 Mbps.This is achieved through a combination of improved technology, updated infrastructure, and utilising new wireless frequencies like mmWave technologies.
Given the infancy of 5G, there’s no need to rush out and invest in new systems just yet. However, if your home or workplace cabling and fibre optics are looking a little lacklustre or not performing how you would like them to, now is the time to have a chat to a local electrician that specialises in data and communications – but where do you find one?
Here at Shield Electrical, we are a Brisbane based electrical contracting company, and pride ourselves on being shockingly good at watt we do. For us, friendly and reliable customer service isn’t just a nice add on – it’s how we do business. Don’t take our word for it though, just ask our clients.
Established in 2015, Shield Electrical is lighting the way when it comes to providing electrical work with world class customer service. With our headquarters based in the central suburban pocket of Coorparoo, our team of qualified industry professionals are readily available to deliver quality workmanship, fast quotes, and affordable pricing.
Whether you’re on the hunt for an electrician for domestic services, residential, commercial and industrial construction, security systems or even just further energy saving tips, get in touch with us at Shield today to source practical solutions that don’t break the bank.
