Mobile connectivity is one of the main needs of modern life, allowing people to communicate, work and play anywhere and anytime. However, the evolution of mobile network technologies can be confusing for many users, with different letters and acronyms representing varying speeds and capacities. In this text, we will clearly and objectively explain the main types of mobile network technologies, from GPRS and EDGE to 5G, presenting their characteristics and differences to help you better understand the mobile connectivity you use daily.
The difference between E, G, H, H+, 3G, 4G, 5G and 6G
G – GPRS
The letter G stands for GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) technology, which began to be used in 2000. It can generate data at speeds of up to 171.2 Kb/s (kilobits per second). When deployed with a 2G network, it ends up forming a “2.5G” network. The internet of this standard is usually quite slow. In Brazil, it is still commonly found.
E – EDGE
The letter E symbolizes the EDGE technology (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), being a 3G technologist. This technology is a little faster than the previous one, represented by the letter G. It can reach a maximum speed of 473.6 Kb/s.
H – HSPDA
The letter H refers to HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) technology or the HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) standard. This connection reaches a speed considered high, up to 14 Mb/s (megabits per second).
H+ – HSPDA+
The H+ symbol stands for technology called Evolved HSPA. This can reach speeds of up to 168 Mb/s for download and 22 Mb/s for upload;
The acronym 3G refers to third-generation mobile technologies. Standards such as HSPA and HSPA+ are often referred to as 3G, however they are not. When the acronym 3G appears on a device, it generally refers to UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service) technology, which can reach speeds of up to 2 Mb/s.
4G / LTE
Called the fourth generation of mobile internet, 4G is the successor to 3G. Among the differences, the main one is precisely the connection speed and data loading. The 4G connection can be approximately 10 times faster than the third generation, that is, 3G.
Long Term Evolution, or simply LTE, the fourth generation mobile data transmission technology that was built on the basis of GSM and WCDMA. As a characteristic, the technology prioritizes data traffic instead of voice traffic, as in previous generations.
5G
Named the fifth generation of mobile internet, the expectation is that the 5G network is 50 times faster than the speed of the 4G network. In some countries around the world, the technology is already being implemented, and some smartphones equipped with support have already been presented to the public.
6G
The 5G network has not yet been implemented worldwide, even so, the 6G theme is already on the agenda. The expectation is that sixth generation networks will have speeds of up to 1 Tb/s (terabit per second), a band that is still unavailable even in residential and wired connections. Such a network is not expected to be generally deployed before 2030.
