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5G vs 4G: What Is the Difference?
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5G vs 4G: What Is the Difference?

Fifth-generation networking is on its way. Promising superfast speeds and an end to congestion, the technology is expected to revolutionise mobile networking and create new economic opportunity: but how exactly will it do this and what makes it different?

Heidi Vella
Raconteur, 2019
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Scientific
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

5G is currently on everyone’s mind. But no one is certain what’s so revolutionary about it, and how or when will it change the lives of ordinary people. Technology writer Heidi Vella sheds light on these questions in an informative piece on the potential applications of the new technology. Everyone who needs a primer on the next generation of wireless technology and how it will transform industries and people’s lives will appreciate her readable overview.

Summary

5G enables data transmission in real time.

5G offers a new and much faster way to transfer data over air by utilizing radio frequencies that are much higher than those used by current 4G technology. This will allow for a much larger number of devices to operate simultaneously within a geographic area. Counted by square kilometer, 5G will be able to support 250 times the number of devices than 4G technology currently supports.

5G’s underlying technology, called Massive MIMO (multiple input multiple output), uses multiple targeted beams to follow users, which makes for much faster transmission than current network technologies that operate more like floodlights...

About the Author

Heidi Vella is an energy and technology writer. 

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