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How Is Gigabit LTE Different from 5G?

March 29, 2023

Gigabit LTE: The 4G Solution for High-Speed Cellular Broadband

5G receives much attention as it has become table stakes for consumers. Gigabit LTE, the 4G technology that introduced no-pause streaming video on our smartphones, is its lesser-known precursor. It’s an evolution of 4G LTE that can provide dependable mobile broadband access at speeds surpassing wired broadband.  

Elevate Your Mobile Broadband Experience

Coverage is improving fast as carriers roll out 5G at breakneck speed. However, Gigabit LTE remains available with nationwide coverage worldwide. 5G is a recent technology with new radio waveforms and new modems. Therefore, the price of 5G will be higher than 4G products for some time.  

The cost of the new 5G chipsets will include a price premium because of all the new features in the devices. On the other hand, 4G device prices will decrease as they achieve an economy of scale with large deployments. 

Gigabit LTE vs. 4G LTE 

A greater focus on data transmission came with the fourth-generation mobile communication standard (4G). Previous cellular standard generations (2G and 3G) centered on voice and text capabilities, catering to pre-smartphone consumers.  

For smartphones and mobile broadband communication, the LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) standard was approved in 2011 (3GPP Release 10). It delivered peak download data rates of 1 Gbps. 

LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro) enhanced Gigabit LTE capabilities. 3GPP approved this standard circa 2015 with Release (Rel) 13. LTE-A Pro took 4G a step further. It provided peak download speeds into the 3 Gbps range, depending on networks’ availability of high carrier aggregation  (up to 32 20-MHz carriers allowed in LTE-A Pro).  

Key 5G technologies and strategies enable LTE-A Pro to prove the robustness and resilience of these ultrahigh-speed connections. The connection speed can be faster than wired broadband. Those include: 

Carrier Aggregation 

Four Antennas Help LTE Achieve 1 Gigabit Per Second Speeds Allowing for Novel Applications

Mobile network operators (MNOs) can provide increased data speeds. They combine the data-carrying capabilities from multiple sections of the radio spectrum, known as “carriers,” to send and receive data.  

Carrier aggregation combines an MNO’s often non-contiguous carriers within one or more spectrum bands. It expands data pathway width and carrying capacity to allow for higher capacity and speeds. Gigabit LTE requires five or more carriers aggregated to push theoretical data rates to peak at levels higher than 3 Gbps.  

With 5G taking more spectrum share, the industry trend will eventually migrate all devices to 5G. However, that will take more than a decade to happen. Until then, LTE will fill the gap for mid-tier devices.  

With 3xCA, LTE devices will get decent speeds for many broadband use cases. In addition, high-tier devices that require multigigabit speeds will eventually migrate to 5G. 

License Assisted Access (LAA) 

To increase data-carrying radio spectrum capacity, LAA uses the unlicensed 5 GHz band in conjunction with the MNO’s licensed spectrum. Licensed spectrum is known as “cleared spectrum.” Nobody other than the licensee is using that spectrum within the regional boundaries of the license.  

Unlicensed spectrum is available for various uses like Wi-Fi, which also functions within the 5 GHz band. LAA must work around these other users to apply techniques like Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) function to identify and utilize unused channels. 

256-QAM 

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is an efficient two-domain encoding strategy. It leverages amplitude and frequency modulations to encode information in the radio waveforms. The higher the QAM number, the more information the waveforms can carry.  

Before 256-QAM, there was 64-QAM. When 64-QAM is used, 6 bits of information can be in each encoded symbol, so 2^6 equals 64. In 256-QAM, 8 bits of data can be packed in the same symbol, so 2^8 equals 256. 256-QAM bit rates are 30% faster than 64-QAM bit rates.  

This increased data rate means 256-QAM requires a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than 64-QAM. So when a radio is in good reception and gets a strong signal, it can perform 30% better than the older system based on 64-QAM. 

4 x 4 Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO) Technology 

As carrier aggregation achieves higher bandwidths with multiple carriers, so does MIMO with multiple antenna paths per band. Gigabit LTE networks have standardized four antennas on the base station and four on the device. These antennas improve spectral efficiency and data speeds, allowing the equipment to connect with the steadiest available signals. 

Gigabit LTE vs. 5G 

While Gigabit LTE and 5G are similar, a few key details set them apart. 5G adds new bands in available frequencies in the sub-6 GHz range and ultrahigh millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum (up to 40 GHz). 4G is mostly deployed in the lower frequencies (up to 2.5 GHz) except for a few bands in 3.5 GHz (also called mid-band).  

Furthermore, 4G spectrum is limited to a maximum bandwidth of 20 MHz. This means each 4G carrier’s capacity is limited to 20 MHz. On the other hand, 5G defines new spectrum bands that are 100 MHz wide. We can imagine how aggregating a few carriers can achieve high speeds in 5G. 

Since bandwidth-rich mmWave cells cover small areas, dense concentrations are necessary to achieve target user experience levels. A 5G experience significantly different from Gigabit LTE requires constructing new infrastructure, which will take time. 

Another differentiator is that 5G networks can work in two modes: stand-alone (SA) or non-stand-alone (NSA). SA indicates that the system operates with all 5G radio and core networks. NSA uses LTE and 5G resources combined in different modes.  

With 3GPP Rel 16 published in 2020, 5G became a solid alternative to wired networks used in critical industrial processes. These processes are dominated by various wire and fiber-based time-sensitive networks (TSN). Rel 16’s ultrareliable low latency communication (URLLC) capabilities specify link reliability better than 99.9999% and latencies in the millisecond range. 

Applications and Use Cases of Gigabit LTE Networks 

Gigabit LTE’s broad availability and falling connectivity costs offer the advantage of easier adoption. Unlike 5G, it doesn’t require constructing new towers or redesigning device antennas to cope with mmWave or URLLC technologies’ demands. Gigabit LTE offers many of the benefits associated with 5G (e.g., high-speed data) without design challenges for businesses worldwide.  

Here are a few ideal use cases for Gigabit LTE: 

Remote Locations 

Businesses and agencies must often add network connectivity to sites and venues out of the existing infrastructure’s reach. Wired connections using copper or fiber can be extremely expensive and require long installation lead times. Deploying a cellular router to deliver Gigabit LTE broadband access to these sites is more cost-effective. In cases like natural disasters and pop-up events, it’s the only available option. 

Industrial Applications 

There are several industrial applications in which Gigabit LTE is crucial (e.g., security applications requiring high bandwidth). If a company needs to monitor remote locations with video cameras streaming 24/7, Gigabit LTE is the most reliable method.  

High-definition (HD) and ultrahigh-definition (UHD) cameras and those used in surveillance and industrial applications require high bandwidth on the uplink. However, not all Gigabit LTE modules will deliver the full specification. Gigabit LTE modules must implement two radio chains on the uplink side to provide interband carrier aggregation. Otherwise, the device will only benefit from half the network’s capacity. 

Branch Offices or New Stores 

Gigabit LTE provides an inexpensive, efficient solution for companies that must set up internet connections at branch offices or temporary stores. It requires minimal setup: The operator switches on an LTE router and provides connectivity in minutes. 

Failover Access to Reduce Downtime 

Even if an office maintains a wired connection to the internet and head office, Gigabit LTE can be a backup system. Downtime can be expensive, costing a small business about $423 per minute and large companies around $9,000 per minute. A Gigabit LTE backup system costs very little by comparison and provides insurance against such losses. 

As we await denser coverage of 5G, Gigabit LTE offers an accessible and efficient solution today. 

Speak with our IoT experts today to request a project review or developer kit. 

FAQs

Is LTE better than 5G?

In general, 5G outperforms LTE in most areas. It provides faster speeds and lower latency. The technology can support a greater number of connected devices in the same area.

However, performance can vary based on network coverage and conditions. In some rural areas or indoor locations, LTE may offer more reliable service.

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of mobile network technology. It delivers faster speeds and lower latency with greater capacity than previous generations.

Key features of 5G include:

  • High-speed connectivity
  • Ultralow latency
  • Improved network efficiency
  • Support of large-scale IoT deployments
  • Enhanced energy efficiency

5G enables advanced applications, like real-time remote monitoring and edge computing. It’s well-suited for IoT use cases that require high performance and responsiveness.

What is LTE?

Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is the foundation of 4G mobile networks. It offers high-speed wireless communication for both consumer and IoT devices.

For IoT, LTE includes specialized variants, like LTE-M and NB-IoT. They are designed for low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) applications.

These technologies offer:

  • Scalability for large deployments
  • Reliable and secure connectivity
  • Cost-effective hardware and data plans
  • Extended coverage and deep signal penetration

LTE-M and NB-IoT support battery life up to 10 years. They let devices remain idle and wake only when needed to send or receive data.

LTE-based IoT solutions are ideal for use cases that require efficient, long-term connectivity, such as smart meters and asset tracking.

What is LTE connectivity?

LTE connectivity lets devices access 4G mobile networks. 4G provides advantages over 2G and 3G, including:

  • Faster speeds
  • Lower latency
  • Greater capacity
  • Wide coverage

LTE uses packet-switched architecture and advanced radio technologies to improve:

  • Data performance
  • Coverage
  • Efficiency

LTE delivers secure and reliable connections across broad geographic areas. This ability makes LTE ideal for mobile devices and a range of IoT applications.

Are 4G and LTE the same?

LTE is a type of 4G technology. However, LTE and 4G are not identical.

LTE was developed as a steppingstone toward full 4G. It improved upon 3G but did not meet the original speed and performance goals set for 4G.

When first developed, LTE did not meet the standards established by global bodies for 4G technology. However, because it offered a substantial improvement over 3G, the term 4G was applied to LTE and similar technologies.

Continued development — especially with LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) — has since brought LTE’s performance up to or beyond the original 4G benchmarks. Today, 4G and LTE are often used interchangeably despite LTE being a subset of the broader 4G standard.

What is Gigabit LTE?

Gigabit LTE is an advanced version of 4G LTE designed to provide faster cellular broadband. It bridges the gap between standard 4G and 5G technology.

Key features include:

  • High-speed access that can rival or surpass many wired connections, supporting smooth video streaming and fast downloads
  • Carrier aggregation (CA), which combines multiple LTE frequency bands to increase bandwidth and boost speeds
  • License Assisted Access (LAA), which uses unlicensed 5 GHz Wi-Fi spectrum alongside licensed LTE bands to improve capacity and speed, especially in crowded areas
  • 256-state quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), which packs more data into each transmission to increase efficiency and speed
  • 4 x 4 multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO), which uses four antennas to transmit and receive data simultaneously, boosting signal quality and network capacity

Gigabit LTE represents the highest performance level of 4G LTE. It leverages advanced technology to maximize speed on existing networks and is widely accessible across many regions.

What is the difference between Gigabit LTE and 4G LTE?

Gigabit LTE is an improved version of 4G LTE that offers significantly faster data speeds and enhanced network performance. Instead of being a separate technology, it upgrades the current LTE standard.

LTE was the first widely adopted standard for 4G mobile networks. It marked a major leap from 3G by prioritizing data transfer through a fully IP-based system.

Standard 4G LTE initially provided download speeds from 20 to 50 Mbps, with peak speeds potentially reaching around 100 Mbps. It introduced key technologies to improve performance:

  • Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)
  • Multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO)

LTE did not originally meet the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) strict 4G speed requirements of 100 Mbps for high mobility and 1 Gbps for low mobility. The organization later revised its definition. Due to its improvements over 3G, LTE was then marketed as 4G.

Gigabit LTE builds on standard 4G LTE by incorporating enhancements from LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) and LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro). It pushes performance further, reaching speeds of up to 1 Gbps or higher. Gigabit LTE achieves these speeds through a combination of advanced technologies, including:

  • Merging multiple frequency bands to increase bandwidth through carrier aggregation
  • Use of licensed and unlicensed spectrums that expand available capacity
  • Increasing higher-order modulation data density with 256-state quadrature amplitude modulation (256-QAM)
  • Multiple antennas to boost throughput and signal quality through 4 x 4 MIMO

Gigabit LTE is the peak of 4G technology and acts as a bridge to 5G, delivering near-gigabit speeds in areas where 5G coverage is still limited.

Editor’s note: This blog was originally published on 29 April 2020 and has since been updated.