In this ever-evolving world of technology, understanding the intricacies of mobile networks can be quite daunting, especially for those of us who have seen a fair share of changes over the years. By now you would have heard about 5G and wondered, "What's the fuss?" and if it’s worth upgrading. In short, the answer for most of us is no.

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for mobile cellular networks. Many have described its benefits as an evolution, not a revolution. Upgrading to 5G can come with additional costs and for most of us, the extra speeds will make very little difference, especially considering the premium 5G devices and services can demand over 4G. It's like upgrading from a reliable sedan to a high-speed sports car.

When will 4G be phased out?

Not for a long time! 5G will not make 4G obsolete any time soon. This is far enough into the future that deployments today and into the foreseeable future will continue with 4G networks.

One of the main reasons for the phase-out of 2G and 3G technologies is their limited amount of available spectrum. In fact, this spectrum is often repurposed to improve coverage and reliability on 4G networks to deliver more data at higher speeds.

The speed and throughput of 4G is more than adequate for many use cases. 4G devices and services are often considerably cheaper than 5G too, so there's no need to rush to 5G anytime soon; however, if you do have an intensive requirement for 5G connectivity, contact our sales team to discuss our latest options.