2G vs 5G: How has Internet Speeds Transformed?

At one time, nobody thought surfing the web would be possible with a mobile phone. Then came 2G, where you had to wait for ages just for the images to load on a page.

Fortunately, technology advanced enough to gift us with 3G. The time came for websites to load quickly and videos to play without buffering.

Next, 4G hit the market and unleashed super speeds for mobile internet. You could now do almost everything on mobile with 4G that was possible only on computers earlier.

No wonder the mobile internet went through a massive transformation since its inception. Now, we have 5G on the corner with promises of high-speed internet and endless possibilities.

Let’s explore how the data plans on your mobile have now reached a new level and their backstory.

2G to 5G: A Massive Transformation of Mobile Internet

1G was the beginning of mobile internet. It was introduced in the 1980s and supported only voice calls. Therefore, you couldn’t really access the internet with 1G.

Next came 2G, which was a major upgrade from 1G. Now, you could send SMS and MMS over the internet right from your mobiles.

2G was first introduced in Finland on the GSM and CDMA networks. The maximum speed you could achieve with 2G stood at 50Kbps.

At that time, it was enough for most users to access and use the internet.

After a while, 2.5G or GPRS came into the picture. Additionally, users could also rely on 2.75G or EDGE to enjoy better speeds.

2G is mostly obsolete today. However, it is still used in some parts of the world, especially in rural or remote areas.

The Coming of 3G

3G brought a new revolution in mobile internet. For the first time, we could rely on our mobiles to surf the internet without hiccups. As a result, most telecom providers started rolling out 3G to attract more customers.

3G refers to the “third generation.” It is the third stage of advancement in the field of wireless internet over the phone.

Best of all, 3G allowed users to enjoy a download speed of a maximum of 7.2Mbps. However, in reality, most users could only enjoy speeds of 3 Mbps at the time.

Even then, 3G was a big advancement for mobile data. It offers almost 100-times more speed compared to 2G.

4G Unleashes a New Age in Mobile Internet

4G was a big step in making mobiles a primary device to access and browse the internet. People didn’t need their laptops or desktops any more to be able to, say, download a movie.

As a result, 4G received widespread adoption and preference by mobile service providers.

4G stands for fourth-generation wireless, an internet technology that provides speeds similar to broadband. The technology was introduced in 2011 but took almost 3 more years to receive widespread adoption.

Moreover, 4G relied on the all-Internet Protocol (IP) network. So, it was able to offer download speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

Therefore, 4G shares the same basic protocols just like the internet. Moreover, 4G is still the most prevalent mobile internet service provided across the world.

The Emergence of 5G

5G is the latest development in the world of mobile internet. It is the 5th generation of internet available on mobiles, dongles, and wireless routers.

In theory, 5G can achieve speeds of up to 20 Gbps. Therefore, it is around 20-times faster than 4G.

In addition, 5G brings many advantages to the table, such as low latency and high bandwidth. Therefore, 5G can open new horizons for businesses and people around the world.

You may be able to run apps and enterprise-grade solutions with the foundation of 5G. Therefore, 

you will not need to be tied down to your computer just to be productive.

In addition, 5G may support services that were only the forte of broadband.

Final Thoughts

Mobile internet has evolved by leaps and bounds over the years. It started from 2G, advanced to 3G, and settled with 4G with most of the service providers. However, now 5G is on the horizon and holds new promises.

Be sure to opt for the best 4G and 5G connections from top providers if you live in rural areas. You can also get hold of advanced routers that offer the best speeds for 4G and 5G.

Contact us today to know more.

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