4G vs 4.5G vs 4.9G vs 5G: Technology Comparison

This article compares 4G, 4.5G, 4.9G, and 5G wireless technologies, highlighting their key differences. Links to comparisons of older generations (2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G) are also provided for broader context.

4G

4G represents a significant leap forward in mobile technology. Here’s a summary of its features:

• Standard: LTE 3GPP Rel.8, LTE Advanced 3GPP Rel.12
• Device Categories: Cat.4, Cat.1
• Peak Download Data Rate: 10 Mbps to 150 Mbps (depending on the standard release)
• Peak Upload Data Rate: 5 Mbps to 50 Mbps (depending on the standard release)
• Frequency Bandwidth: Carrier Bandwidth 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz

4.5G - An Extension of 4G LTE

4.5G represents a further evolution beyond mainstream mobile broadband. It’s essentially an enhanced version of 4G LTE, offering improvements in several areas.

• It refers to services that extend beyond basic mobile broadband.
• It’s an evolution of 4G LTE, offering download speeds up to 300 Mbps.
• It plays a vital role in emerging IoT markets.
• It enables more efficient IoT connectivity.
• It supports mission-critical public safety applications.
• It enables broadcasting over LTE.
• Standard: LTE Advanced Pro 3GPP Rel. 13, Rel.14
• Device Categories: Cat. M1 (LTE-M), Cat. NB1 (NB-IoT)
• Peak Download Data Rates: 1 Mbps (LTE-M), 170 Kbps (NB-IoT)
• Peak Upload Data Rates: 1 Mbps (LTE-M), 250 Kbps (NB-IoT)
• Frequency Bandwidth: 1.08 Mbps (1.4 MHz carrier BW) in LTE-M, 180 KHz (200 KHz carrier BW) in NB-IoT

4.5G Pro

4.5G Pro builds on 4.5G with even faster speeds and capabilities.

• Based on 4.5G technology.
• Offers mobile broadband data rates up to 1 Gbps.
• Integrates unlicensed spectrum to make 1 Gbps speeds more widely available.
• Lays the foundation for 4.9G/5G with 5G-ready radio access.

4.9G

4.9G is a stepping stone towards 5G, offering significant improvements in speed and latency.

• Built upon the foundation of 4.5G Pro.
• Offers data rates exceeding 1 Gbps and latencies as low as 2 ms.
• Paves the way for new services and applications.
• Provides a pathway to continuous 5G service.

5G

5G is the latest generation of wireless technology, promising dramatically improved performance.

• Bandwidth: Supports 1Gbps or higher
• Frequency Bands: Sub-1 GHz, 1 to 6 GHz, and above 6 GHz in mmWave bands (28 GHz, 40 GHz, etc.)
• Peak Data Rate: Approximately 10 Gbps
• Cell Edge Data Rate: 100 Mbps
• Latency: Less than about 1 ms

For more in-depth information on 5G Wireless technology, refer to a dedicated 5G tutorial.