LTE vs. 5G: What Is the Difference

This article will compare and contrast two mobile phone technologies, LTE (Long Term Evolution) and 5G (Fifth Generation). This article compares their technical specifications and key features, including network speed, coverage area, hardware requirements and more. In summary:

 

5G provides faster speeds compared to LTE along with reduced latency. However, 5G coverage is still limited due to low infrastructure deployment. On the other hand, unlike its predecessors, 4G/3G/2G networks have much higher mobility support than LTE. Much like LTE deployments, there are a wide range of variations in standardization among 5G implementations. Overall, 5G is the future of mobile phone networks and will likely replace 4G within the next decade.

 

LTE (Long Term Evolution) and 5G (Fifth Generation) are two of the latest generation cellular communication technologies for mobile phones. These terms are often used interchangeably in casual discussions, but frequently represent different technical specifications and features. In this article, we’ll take a comprehensive look at these two technologies to help clarify their differences and highlight key similarities between them.

Network Speed: LTE vs. 5G – What’s Faster?

One of the core differences between LTE and 5G networks is speed – LTE has higher data transfer rates than any previous mobile phone standard, while 5G is designed to provide even faster data transfer rates than LTE.

 

5G is capable of up to 10 gigabits per second (10 Gbps), which is quite a step up from the current theoretical maximum of LTE at 1 gigabit per second (1 Gbps). As for the actual speeds that 5G enables, these are much higher – in some cases, measured in terabits per second (Tbps) or even petabits per second (Pbps). However, we won’t see these kinds of speeds anytime soon. In fact, most carriers plan on starting off with around 10 Mbps and gradually working their way up as 5G technology develops into its full capabilities over time. According to some estimates, this will take at least 5 years.

 

Despite being promising, these speeds do not come easily. The higher speeds of 5G also require more complex network architectures and hardware due to the fact that data needs to be transferred between many more points than in LTE networks. New spectrums will need to be introduced as well, although carriers are already working on this by utilizing spectrum bands from 6GHz up through 100 GHz and beyond.

Coverage Area: How Far Can You Go With a 5G Network? Is It Better Than LTE?

A major limitation of 5G networks is that the coverage area is still much lower than LTE. This is due to the fact that 5G requires more robust infrastructure and because it utilizes higher frequency bands than its 4G counterpart. In fact, 5G base stations will be separated by a minimum of 100 meters, while LTE can be used over distances up to several kilometers! According to some estimates, there will be around one million such base stations in use during 2020 – a far cry from 4 million deployed for LTE today.

 

But why exactly does a greater number of base stations matter so much? The reason boils down to physics: as frequencies get higher, their wavelength also gets shorter which results in decreased reception range and increases the need for more base stations to cover the same area.

 

In addition, due to the greater distances that LTE networks can cover from a single base station, it is much cheaper to deploy than 5G – especially in countries with large rural areas such as India and China where cell tower density is relatively low. This makes LTE significantly more cost-efficient for carriers compared to 5G.

Hardware Requirements: What Does 5G Require? Is It Better Than LTE?

5G requires new hardware alongside new spectrums in order to function properly like Cohere Tech. For example, a 5G connection will require a device that supports C-band connectivity on its front end as well as MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) capabilities on the back end in order to provide the full range of high-speed capabilities.

 

In addition, 5G requires many more MIMO streams than LTE – due to the power needed to support fast speeds, it will require upwards of 64 antennas per device. This is significantly higher than the 2 or 4 antennas that are common on existing devices that enable LTE functionality. As a result, current mobile phones will not be able to take advantage of 5G’s enhanced speed and coverage ranges without being completely redesigned with these hardware requirements in mind.

Cost: How Much Will It Cost To Get A 5G Network? Is It Better Than LTE?

As mentioned earlier, 5G infrastructure is more complex and expensive than its 4G counterpart which results in higher costs for carriers. In addition, 5G networks will require a higher degree of repeatability and densification in order to function properly due to the fact that it is so much more difficult for signals to travel through higher frequencies.

 

Despite these challenges, overall costs per gigabyte are expected to decrease from $6/GB in 2020 down to around $2-3/GB by 2025. This aligns with analyst predictions that 5G technology itself will be cost efficient – yet the initial investment required will limit its immediate adoption compared to LTE networks which have already been deployed on vast scales across the world. Despite this, carriers can still recoup their investments over time as 5G has far greater potential than LTE when it comes to generating revenue in the long run.

Conclusion: Is 5G Better Than LTE? How Does It Compare To Its Predecessor?

5G networks are still under development and will not be deployed on a massive scale until 2020 at the earliest. However, we can already see that it is set to improve upon its predecessor in many ways including data speed, coverage area and cost efficiency – with an anticipated tenfold increase in bandwidth compared to 4G! When combined with modern advancements like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, the potential for growth is great as 5G technology makes greater strides towards becoming established within the industry.

 

When comparing 5G vs LTE, one must consider both their strengths and weaknesses in order to determine how each network will impact business processes and requirements. Despite the fact that 5G is much more expensive than LTE and requires significant hardware upgrades on end devices, it ultimately offers superior benefits in terms of bandwidth capacity and device support – resulting in enhanced speed and coverage compared to its forerunner. Its biggest advantage lies in the long-term benefits that are projected for businesses across a wide range of industries including healthcare, smart cities, virtual reality and artificial intelligence as 5G takes business processes into the next decade and beyond!