When it comes to network connectivity, and sheer speed of the connection, Wi-Fi has stayed on top for a long time. But recently, a new mobile network has been developed. 5G is the latest mobile network, and its revolutionary technology might give Wi-Fi a run for its money.
5G can provide speeds of up to 20Gbps, and it almost eliminates latency, something that Wi-Fi has never been able to achieve. We can’t say that Wi-Fi has been left in the dust as it’s still being developed and updated. Currently, the latest version of Wi-Fi is “Wi-Fi 6”, and while it may not be as good as 5G, it’s still pretty close (in terms of speed and latency).
We can’t say for certain that 5G should be preferred over Wi-Fi, but one thing’s for certain, we’ll need both to enjoy the benefits of the internet of the “future” to its fullest. But many of you might be wondering: “Is 5g faster than wifi”. While it undoubtedly is, there are still some things a Wi-Fi connection does better. In this article, we’ll go through a few things you need to know about 5G and Wi-Fi.
The difference between 5G and Wi-Fi:
For the question Is 5g faster than wifi? We need to know about both.
5G is the umbrella term for the fifth generation of mobile network technology and contains a lot of different elements. Mobile networks use spectrum bands to function, and oftentimes these spectrum bands are “auctioned” off to the highest bidder, meaning carriers like AT&T need to pay before using these bands.
The signals of the network reach its users via a network of connected base stations. In simple terms, you have to buy subscriptions to use mobile networks. There are daily, monthly, and weekly subscriptions. Wi-Fi, on the other hand, makes use of an unlicensed spectrum (that means it’s completely free and can be used by anyone). But depending on how near/far you are from the Wi-Fi device, the signals can either be very strong, or very weak.
To get a Wi-Fi connection, you have to contact an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to install the Wi-Fi. They install a router that spreads Wi-Fi signals across your entire house (even outside, depending on how good your ISP’s Wi-Fi is). Oftentimes, getting the same frequency band as your neighbor next door can cause a few problems.
Wi-Fi connections use two frequencies – a 2.4 GHz band, and a 5 GHz band. The 2.4 GHz provides lower speeds but is better at penetrating (That means its range is longer than 5GHz). The 5GHz band provides faster speeds, but its range is a bit lower than the 2.4 GHz band. The 5 GHz band can’t penetrate structures like walls (with ease, that is).
As of now, most of us rely on Wi-Fi, whether we’re at our homes, or in a café, Wi-Fi’s the network people choose. That may change with 5G’s release, but it’s still not certain since Wi-Fi is still under development.
The promise of 5G:
5G promises speed as high as 20 Gbps on both download and upload! But the thing that people are excited about the most, is the 1-millisecond latency that comes with the super high download speeds of 5G. Although you can get the same speeds from an ethernet connection, theoretically, those speeds are nothing compared to 5G.
The actual speeds can vary (going as low as 50Mbps, and 10 ms latency) depending on where you live, what network you’re utilizing, the number of people connected to your device, and the type of device. The coverage of 5G will take its time to expand as 4G-LTEs did, so there’s still a lot more to come.
The Promise of Wi-Fi 6:
The latest version of Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) utilizes 802.11ax technology. The speeds of the new Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) are expected to be 4 times the speeds of Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). The new design comes with increased efficiency and capacity to handle way more connected devices than Wi-Fi 5. But bear in mind, that Wi-Fi 6 is only complementing, and not replacing the previous standards, just like 5G.
Conclusion:
As for the question: “Is 5g faster than wifi”, the answer is simple – it is, but that still doesn’t mean it’ll replace Wi-Fi for good. Wi-Fi is still being developed and updated, so it might come back on top with future updates. One thing is for sure, we’ll need both 5G and Wi-Fi to enjoy the internet to the fullest.
With that out of the way, we hope this article clears out any questions you had related to 5G vs Wi-Fi. If you have any further queries or would like to add something to this article, feel free to comment down below, and we’ll try to respond to as many queries as we can!
Read More: Sprint Signal Booster for improving call
