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5G, LTE and Wi-Fi: What's the Difference?
March 7, 2024
While 5G, LTE and Wi-Fi all keep you connected, each serves distinctly different purposes in today’s wireless ecosystem. Understanding their differences is crucial for making informed connectivity decisions for your business. Let’s explore how these technologies work, their unique advantages, and when to use each one.
If you’re an enterprise grappling with the decision of 5G, LTE or WiFi for your network needs, and trying to decide whether to deploy 5G orLTE technology to supplement or potentially replace your existing WiFi network, then read on.
A device called a router helps several types of computing devices connect to the wireless network and send and receive data including files, audio, and video. The router transmits the wireless signal, which facilitates data communication within a fixed location. It’s important to remember that while the term WiFi is used to denote ‘wireless’, the latter is a much broader term.
5G, the fifth generation of cellular technology, builds on the LTE foundation by delivering faster speeds, lower latency and the ability to support far more connected devices at once. While 5G can operate across multiple frequency bands, including low-band, mid-band, and high-band spectrum, it is designed to work alongside LTE, not replace it overnight. In many real-world environments LTE remains critical for dependable coverage, while 5G enhances performance where signal conditions allow. Together, LTE and 5G form the backbone of today’s cellular networks, providing secure, wide-area connectivity that WiFi alone cannot match.Technology
A key difference between 5G/LTE and WiFi is the way they connect to the internet. One of the many advantages of using 5G or LTE is that it doesn’t require a router to connect to the cellular data network. To use the public 5G or LTE network, all you need is a data plan and a mobile device to connect to your cellular service provider’s network. With WiFi, on the other hand, a wireless router is needed to access the internet through your laptop, smartphone, or any other device.Security
When accessing the internet, security is a primary concern — especially if you’re a small or large enterprise that deals with confidential company and client information. In the 5G/LTE vs. WiFi debate cellular data clearly ranks higher in terms of security for several reasons, and Private Cellular Networks are the most secure option for businesses.
An important factor driving the high security standards of cellular data networks is that service providers have strong incentives to protect users’ privacy and safeguard their data. Network operators have dedicated cyber security professionals who develop frequent security updates, keeping risks to a minimum. WiFi, on the other hand, is owned and operated by individual entities that may not develop security updates at all or as frequently, increasing users’ vulnerability to cyber risks.
Another factor that increases the vulnerability of WiFi users is that it’s possible to create fake WiFi networks to which consumers unsuspectingly connect. This practically gives criminals a free virtual tour of their browsing activity. In contrast, the enormous scale and size of cellular networks are huge deterrents for criminals’ attempts to create imitations, thus eliminating the possibility of fake cellular networks.
Finally, since cellular data is encrypted by default, there’s no room for error. On the other hand, when using WiFi, you need to turn on encryption and missing this crucial step leaves you vulnerable to cyber security threats and hacks. As you can see, 5G/LTE is the clear winner in terms of security, which increases its popularity with technological firms and IoT application developers.Coverage
When considering 5G, LTE or WiFi, a clear and significant advantage of 5G/LTE cellular networks is that they provide widespread network coverage, typically nationwide, to subscribers, in contrast to the limited area access provided by WiFi.
Given that WiFi is basically a local area network (LAN), it provides extremely limited coverage. Upon exiting the 300-ft. radius of the router, subscribers lose coverage and need to look for other alternatives. Therefore, relying solely on a WiFi network can be very limiting and inconvenient especially for executives and working professionals who need to travel on a regular basis.
This is why it’s considered almost mandatory to subscribe to a cellular network that offers a much broader coverage no matter where you go. What’s more, 5G/LTE coverage is expected to expand even further with rapid advancements in cellular technology.Bandwidth
How fast is 5G/LTE compared to WiFi? WiFi networks offer a variety of data communication speeds from 600 Mbps up to 46 Gbps, depending on the specification. Until recently, the WiFi standard had a clear advantage over cellular networks in terms of bandwidth or speed.
However, with the introduction of the 5G/LTE standard, cellular networks have considerably bridged the gap in the cellular vs Wifi speed debate, offering connectivity as fast as 1Gbps – allowing users to enjoy video and other high-bandwidth IoT applications. Now with 5G standard and 6G in the making, cellular networks are poised to revolutionize data transfer speeds. This means there’s little to no difference between the bandwidths offered by the two technologies.Dedicated Bands for Different Applications
While the bandwidths of WiFi and 5G/LTE technologies are similar, other factors can hamper the speed of a WiFi network. For instance, since WiFi is on a shared, unlicensed band, it can be used by several different applications like weather sensors, remote controls, electric meter readers, and Bluetooth at the same time, causing a severe lag that slows the network.
In addition, since WiFi is not coordinated, subscribers must rely on a “listen before talk” protocol that compels a device to patiently wait and do nothing while waiting for its turn to “talk”, in case there’s other traffic on the band.
In contrast, cellular networks have dedicated frequency bands for different applications, which ensures that consumers don’t have to compete with other technologies in the same bands, minimizing the probability of a lag.
Also, since the frequencies and resources of the 5G/LTE standard protocol are coordinated, it’s like having a moderator controlling the debate, unlike the WiFi technology where everyone is “shouting”.
To learn more about our solutions, contact one of our representatives today.
If you’re an enterprise grappling with the decision of 5G, LTE or WiFi for your network needs, and trying to decide whether to deploy 5G orLTE technology to supplement or potentially replace your existing WiFi network, then read on.
The Internet Technology Debate – 5G, LTE or WiFi?
Before we deep-dive into the cell signal vs. WiFi debate, let’s briefly examine what we mean by the 5G and LTE internet connection compared to the WiFi standard, two popular internet technologies.What Is WiFi?
WiFi is the name given to a wireless networking protocol, which allows us to communicate data wirelessly, that is, without internet cords. A trademark of an international association of companies known as the WiFi Alliance, the term WiFi represents a type of wireless local area network (LAN) protocol.A device called a router helps several types of computing devices connect to the wireless network and send and receive data including files, audio, and video. The router transmits the wireless signal, which facilitates data communication within a fixed location. It’s important to remember that while the term WiFi is used to denote ‘wireless’, the latter is a much broader term.
What is 5G and LTE?
Long Term Evolution (LTE) refers to 4G cellular technology and has been the foundation of modern mobile connectivity. It is a wireless broadband standard that delivers reliable voice and data performance across wide geographic areas. LTE is known for its consistent reliability and broad coverage, especially because it uses licensed cellular spectrum and radio frequencies that penetrate buildings and reach remote locations more effectively than earlier technologies like 3G.5G, the fifth generation of cellular technology, builds on the LTE foundation by delivering faster speeds, lower latency and the ability to support far more connected devices at once. While 5G can operate across multiple frequency bands, including low-band, mid-band, and high-band spectrum, it is designed to work alongside LTE, not replace it overnight. In many real-world environments LTE remains critical for dependable coverage, while 5G enhances performance where signal conditions allow. Together, LTE and 5G form the backbone of today’s cellular networks, providing secure, wide-area connectivity that WiFi alone cannot match.
5G and LTE versus WiFi: Which is More Suitable?
5G, LTE and WiFi serve the same need — to communicate data over the internet. The choice between LTE or WiFi is not just a matter of technology, range, speed, performance, and bandwidth, but also about aligning with your specific enterprise needs.Technology
A key difference between 5G/LTE and WiFi is the way they connect to the internet. One of the many advantages of using 5G or LTE is that it doesn’t require a router to connect to the cellular data network. To use the public 5G or LTE network, all you need is a data plan and a mobile device to connect to your cellular service provider’s network. With WiFi, on the other hand, a wireless router is needed to access the internet through your laptop, smartphone, or any other device.Security
When accessing the internet, security is a primary concern — especially if you’re a small or large enterprise that deals with confidential company and client information. In the 5G/LTE vs. WiFi debate cellular data clearly ranks higher in terms of security for several reasons, and Private Cellular Networks are the most secure option for businesses.An important factor driving the high security standards of cellular data networks is that service providers have strong incentives to protect users’ privacy and safeguard their data. Network operators have dedicated cyber security professionals who develop frequent security updates, keeping risks to a minimum. WiFi, on the other hand, is owned and operated by individual entities that may not develop security updates at all or as frequently, increasing users’ vulnerability to cyber risks.
Another factor that increases the vulnerability of WiFi users is that it’s possible to create fake WiFi networks to which consumers unsuspectingly connect. This practically gives criminals a free virtual tour of their browsing activity. In contrast, the enormous scale and size of cellular networks are huge deterrents for criminals’ attempts to create imitations, thus eliminating the possibility of fake cellular networks.
Finally, since cellular data is encrypted by default, there’s no room for error. On the other hand, when using WiFi, you need to turn on encryption and missing this crucial step leaves you vulnerable to cyber security threats and hacks. As you can see, 5G/LTE is the clear winner in terms of security, which increases its popularity with technological firms and IoT application developers.
Coverage
When considering 5G, LTE or WiFi, a clear and significant advantage of 5G/LTE cellular networks is that they provide widespread network coverage, typically nationwide, to subscribers, in contrast to the limited area access provided by WiFi.Given that WiFi is basically a local area network (LAN), it provides extremely limited coverage. Upon exiting the 300-ft. radius of the router, subscribers lose coverage and need to look for other alternatives. Therefore, relying solely on a WiFi network can be very limiting and inconvenient especially for executives and working professionals who need to travel on a regular basis.
This is why it’s considered almost mandatory to subscribe to a cellular network that offers a much broader coverage no matter where you go. What’s more, 5G/LTE coverage is expected to expand even further with rapid advancements in cellular technology.
Bandwidth
How fast is 5G/LTE compared to WiFi? WiFi networks offer a variety of data communication speeds from 600 Mbps up to 46 Gbps, depending on the specification. Until recently, the WiFi standard had a clear advantage over cellular networks in terms of bandwidth or speed.However, with the introduction of the 5G/LTE standard, cellular networks have considerably bridged the gap in the cellular vs Wifi speed debate, offering connectivity as fast as 1Gbps – allowing users to enjoy video and other high-bandwidth IoT applications. Now with 5G standard and 6G in the making, cellular networks are poised to revolutionize data transfer speeds. This means there’s little to no difference between the bandwidths offered by the two technologies.
Dedicated Bands for Different Applications
While the bandwidths of WiFi and 5G/LTE technologies are similar, other factors can hamper the speed of a WiFi network. For instance, since WiFi is on a shared, unlicensed band, it can be used by several different applications like weather sensors, remote controls, electric meter readers, and Bluetooth at the same time, causing a severe lag that slows the network.In addition, since WiFi is not coordinated, subscribers must rely on a “listen before talk” protocol that compels a device to patiently wait and do nothing while waiting for its turn to “talk”, in case there’s other traffic on the band.
In contrast, cellular networks have dedicated frequency bands for different applications, which ensures that consumers don’t have to compete with other technologies in the same bands, minimizing the probability of a lag.
Also, since the frequencies and resources of the 5G/LTE standard protocol are coordinated, it’s like having a moderator controlling the debate, unlike the WiFi technology where everyone is “shouting”.
Your Future Connectivity
Whether you’re thinking of deploying the 5G/LTE standard to complement or replace your WiFi network, or install a private cellular network, Wilson Connectivity — the leader in DAS systems — can help enhance the cellular network in your building, improving its reliability, speed, performance, and security.To learn more about our solutions, contact one of our representatives today.
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