Have you ever wondered how fast 5G is? If we’re talking latency, it’s less than five milliseconds. If we’re talking download speed, it’s 280 mbps. But, in this article, I want to talk about how much faster 5G is than its alternatives.
What is 5G?
As we have already mentioned in a few of our previous articles, 5G stands for “fifth generation” for mobile communications. 5G is significantly faster than 4G. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 5G is designed not just to connect your phone to the internet (without wi-fi) but also to connect multiple devices and machines. For example, someone might turn on their washing machine while out of the house. As a result, 5G is significantly more efficient than 4G.
The way 5G works is that it uses a thing called ” orthogonal frequency division multiplexing”- not that’s not the newest Mary Poppins song. It is a way of encoding data so that it uses multiple frequencies so it doesn’t get clogged by other data on the same frequency.
5G vs. 4G 3G
For this first section, the keyword is “latency”- that’s how long data takes to pass from one device (such as your phone) to another (Such as Twitter’s Server). 4G has a latency of up to 98 microseconds. This seems like the blink of an eye, but 5G has a latency of under five milliseconds. It takes less time for your data to move than for a bee to flap its wing once. Another aspect to look at is download speed. Actual download speed can vary depending on various factors, but the average download speed for each generation is here.
- 3G- 8mbps.
- 4G- 28mbps.
- 5G- 280mbps.
The increased download speed is all to do with the frequency of the EM wave. The higher the G, the higher the frequency- and higher frequency waves travel faster.
5G vs. wi-fi
Another comparison to make with 5G is to wi-fi. Although both use EM waves, wi-fi waves are unlicensed and free for anyone to use. 5G waves, however, are owned by the Tier 1 Telcos.
Think of it like a plot of land- some of it is a public park, and some is a private club you need to pay to get into.
At 34.1mbps, wi-fi is a fair amount slower than 5G but slightly faster than 4G. However, wi-fi is designed to hold multiple devices on one small wave section, so we doubt that even 5G will replace it anytime soon. However, there is now a new kid on the block; wi-fi 6. I could write a long, confusing paragraph about what wi-fi 6 is, but to keep it short, it’s wi-fi with extra tech.
Wi-fi 6 routers can communicate with several devices simultaneously by sending multiple data pieces in the same broadcast. Comparing wi-fi with 5G is challenging because they serve different purposes.
5G vs. fiber Optic
Have you ever seen those super cheesy commercials in which some minor celebrity praises the new “fiber Optic Broadband”? Fiber Optic cables are much better than copper ones. Their glass-coated fibers cause light to travel through, bouncing off the walls as it goes. Data transferred through fiber optic cables can move at 1GB per second. It’s so powerful that most 5G towers will use fiber optic cables to connect to the internet. Plus, fiber optic can go much further. Fiber broadband can reach 70 km from the source. But 5G stations can only get up to 100m.
5G vs. 6G
When 6G comes, it will mainly focus on AI and the “Internet of things.” In the future, VR will become a standard part of our everyday lives, and we’ll require a super strong internet to keep us connected. You may speak to your friend in the Metaverse (when you’re on the bus) and tell your central heating to turn itself on. The only benefit that 5G has over 6G is that it already exists.
Conclusion
4G is fast enough for what you want at the moment. Even data-intensive apps like streaming Netflix or sport on your phone plan will work fine on a 4G connection most of the time. 5G services, when available, will help you get ahead of your requirement and buffer a bit more data to stop those infuriating ‘jerks’ when your video stops and starts for no reason ( that you can discern.) And remember, 4G gave way to 5G after only about ten years, and the rollout of 5G networks started in Australia four or more years ago. Get yourself ready for 6G technology – it is already being worked on and will be here before you know it.