{"id":817,"date":"2023-04-14T10:24:32","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T10:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/?p=817"},"modified":"2023-05-10T14:12:50","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T14:12:50","slug":"3g-vs-4g-vs-lte-vs-5g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dataprot.net\/articles\/3g-vs-4g-vs-lte-vs-5g\/","title":{"rendered":"3G vs 4G vs LTE vs 5G: What’s the Difference(Speed, Security & More)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are over 11.2 billion mobile phones<\/a> around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no denying that mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So did mobile internet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All prepaid or postpaid<\/a> phone numbers offer mobile Internet of some type. Depending on the phone carrier brand, country laws, and the generation of the mobile device you are using, you should be using either one of these mobile internet technologies – 3G, 4G, LTE, or 5G. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are keen on knowing the difference between these generations of mobile network technologies, here we have some differences and comparisons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Differences between 3G, 4G, LTE, and 5G<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For most people, speed is the first thing that comes to mind when it is a 3G 4G 5G comparison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speed: Both for Average and Peak 5G is much faster than 3G and 5G<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The table below shows the differences in average and peak speed for each network generation: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generation<\/td>Technology<\/td>Average Data Speed<\/td>Peak Download Speed<\/td><\/tr>
3G<\/td>UMTS<\/a><\/td>384 kbps<\/td>2 Mbps<\/td><\/tr>
3G<\/td>HSPA<\/td>3-5 Mbps<\/td>14.2 Mbps<\/td><\/tr>
3G<\/td>HSPA+<\/td>5-8 Mbps<\/td>42 Mbps<\/td><\/tr>
4G<\/td>LTE<\/a><\/td>15-20 Mbps<\/td>300 Mbps<\/td><\/tr>
4G<\/td>LTE-Advanced<\/td>50-80 Mbps<\/td>1 Gbps<\/td><\/tr>
4G<\/td>LTE-Advanced Pro<\/td>60-100 Mbps<\/td>3 Gbps<\/td><\/tr>
5G<\/td>NR<\/a><\/td>150-200 Mbps<\/td>10 Gbps<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to know the difference between the peak and average data speeds. In mobile communications, the download and upload speeds we talk about are the peak speeds that show what a certain cellular technology can theoretically do the most cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In real life, we usually get average speeds, which are much slower than peak speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bandwidth <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

After speed, bandwidth is the next big thing, phone carrier companies, use it for branding. The bigger the bandwidth, the better. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bandwidth is a measure of how much traffic a cell phone network can handle before it starts to slow down. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To put it in day-to-day experience, back in 3G or 4G days, during peak hours (when more people on a network use phone services simultaneously), there would be a point when the network would slow down.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering it as one of the crucial factors that would affect mobile internet users directly, it is only natural, the new-generation technologies have better bandwidth compared to the previous ones. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, when you compare 3G vs 4G LTE, the latter has definitely improved quite decently. But if you compare 3G and 4G technologies with 5G, the change is massive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 3G it was flawless for audio calls even during peak hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 4G LTE, we could do video calls during peak hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 5G bandwidth, you could stream an ultra HD movie during a concert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the 2023 Internet of Things statistics<\/a>, there will soon be more than 10 billion active Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This means, there will be many more devices that will be connected to mobile Internet at a given point and in a given location. 5G will also be able to handle them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessibility<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Each new generation of wireless networks has built on the infrastructure of the previous generation. Because of this, it is now much easier to use the Internet. Even the most remote parts of the U.S. will soon be able to connect to 4G or 5G.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is good news for homes and businesses that didn’t have access to reliable cell networks before. Now, these properties can get rid of their old landline security monitoring and switch to a cellular network, which is much safer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Security<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To point out the importance of security for mobile internet technologies, let me point out a stat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ID theft is big in the US, 1 in 17 have faced it<\/a> at some point. Switching to 5G would probably help this problem to some extent. When you compare 3G or 4G with 5G in security terms, 5G is a massive improvement. For instance, the 5G network encrypts user identity and location data, whereas the 3G and 4G networks do not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also when it comes to the security of calls and messages, all calls and messages are encrypted in both 4G and 5G technology. But the encryption protocol is the difference between both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n