Re:Real world 4G vs. 5G test shows 14x bandwidth increase
by kalleboo on Thursday February 15, 2018 @10:49AM
(#16384935)
The "G" terms are all marketing, but generally...
1G was analog.
2G is networks originally designed primarily for calls: technologies include GSM (with GPRS+EDGE added for packet data), CDMA 1x or iDEN
3G is networks evolved for decent data speeds: technologies being UMTS (later upgraded with HSPA) or CDMA EV-DO
4G is embracing a data-only network: the technology being LTE (although some US carriers brand HSPA as "4G" to compete with WiMAX which was branding itself as 4G while having HSPA-like speeds)
5G is still kinda up in the air, but the focus (aside from faster speeds and lower latency) seems to be on more pervasive connections (better roaming between network types) or low power/IoT stuff
All these definitions are contentious. Some people say the initial LTE deployments weren't real 4G, but only LTE-Advanced is, etc.
1G was analog.
2G is networks originally designed primarily for calls: technologies include GSM (with GPRS+EDGE added for packet data), CDMA 1x or iDEN
3G is networks evolved for decent data speeds: technologies being UMTS (later upgraded with HSPA) or CDMA EV-DO
4G is embracing a data-only network: the technology being LTE (although some US carriers brand HSPA as "4G" to compete with WiMAX which was branding itself as 4G while having HSPA-like speeds)
5G is still kinda up in the air, but the focus (aside from faster speeds and lower latency) seems to be on more pervasive connections (better roaming between network types) or low power/IoT stuff
All these definitions are contentious. Some people say the initial LTE deployments weren't real 4G, but only LTE-Advanced is, etc.