While 5G runs on the same radio frequencies as previous generations, there are several key differences between 5G and 4G, 4G LTE, and 3G. They include:
Faster speeds
5G networks can achieve speeds of 10 gigabits a second, making them 10 times faster than 4G networks. It means that previously intensive tasks, such as downloading a film or backing up a database, will now take a fraction of the time they once did.
Low latency
A key reason for the leap in speed is low latency. Latency is the delay between sending and receiving information. 4G networks could achieve a latency of around 200 milliseconds. That reduces to one millisecond with 5G.
Higher bandwidth
5G can run on a broader range of bandwidths (low band, mid band, high band) by expanding radio spectrum resources, from sub-3 GHz used in 4G to 100 GHz and beyond. 5G can operate in both lower bands and mmWave, substantially increasing capacity, multi-Gbps throughput, and low latency. This bandwidth means more devices can be connected to send and receive data at any one time.