5G mobile network technology should bring a real revolution in the way we access the Internet, increasing download speeds, eliminating latencies and reducing congestion on mobile networks. In the near future, Wi-Fi and 5G will be competitors in terms of speed and price. However, all signs indicate that we will likely need both networks to take full advantage of the Internet. But after all, are 5G and 5GHz Wi-Fi the same? No, but technically they have a few things in common, for example, they are both wireless technologies.
To be more specific, 5G is the newest mobile internet standard that smartphones will soon start using, and it really just refers to an upgrade from the previous mobile network standard called 4G.
5 GHz refers to a part of the radio spectrum used by Wi-Fi devices. Most people encounter this term only when connecting to a few Wi-Fi networks or when comparing 5GHz Wi-Fi to 2,4GHz Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi 5G
- The newest mobile network standard, 4G improvement
- Connect your router to the Internet
- Wireless, equivalent to cable or fiber internet connection
5 GHz Wi-Fi
- Popular frequency band used by Wi-Fi, along with 2,4 GHz
- Connect your devices at home to your router
- Only works on your home network
5G: The latest version of the mobile internet
When mobile devices - like your smartphone, tablet or notebook are connected to a mobile network, and not on Wi-Fi. They can do this through the data service of a mobile network operator. 5G is the latest technology, which aims to provide ultra-fast connections for these devices.
In terms of widespread usage, 4G is still the fastest mobile internet technology currently in use in Spain, but once 5G arrives, and 5G smartphones are launched (they already are), 5G will offer many improvements over 4G. , which will allow 5G to change many industries for the better.
5 GHz: One Wi-Fi frequency band
Devices connected to a Wi-Fi network can transmit data in two frequency bands, depending on the router: 5 GHz and 2,4 GHz. Just like mobile 5G networks which are faster than 4G because they operate at higher frequencies, 5GHz Wi-Fi is often faster than 2,4GHz for the same reason.
5GHz also has the downside (like 5G) of not being able to transmit well through walls and has a shorter Wi-Fi range than the 2,4GHz band.
However, 5 GHz is only used within the context of Wi-Fi. That is, when you are in a home or business, where the wireless router or access point supports 5GHz, devices can connect to the router in that frequency range instead of 2,4GHz.
5GHz is an option on routers to enable faster transfer speeds, and help reduce congestion and interference by allowing the network to run on more channels than 2,4GHz supports. Most modern routers are dual-band, meaning they operate in the 2,4GHz or 5GHz frequency bands. To change, just configure the router on the band you want.
What about 5G Wi-Fi routers?
From now on, if you see a Wi-Fi network with "5G" mentioned in its name, you are referring to the frequency in gigahertz (5 GHz). The Wi-Fi naming sets it apart from the 2,4GHz network that the dual-band router is also capable of broadcasting.
A dual-band router can have both types of networking enabled, so older devices that only support 2,4GHz can still connect to the network. At the same time, newer devices can use 5GHz on the same router to enjoy the speed of the latest technology.
In the past, when there was no talk of 5G mobile internet, there was no such confusion. People used to call a 5GHz Wi-Fi router a "5G router" as it could not be confused with 5G mobile internet. However, with current 5G mobile internet routers, this gets a little confusing.
As 5G networks become more prevalent and potentially replace broadband in the home, the routers used "to connect devices via 5G mobile internet will almost certainly be called 5G routers, meaning they connect your home network to the Internet over a 5G mobile network. On your home network, your devices will still have the option to connect to the router in the 2,4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands.
A promessa do Wi-Fi 6
Traditionally, Wi-Fi has terms of naming conventions for standards that are quite confusing, especially for the more tech-savvy user. It went from 802.11b to 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n, and then 802.11ac, but luckily the Wi-Fi Alliance (and hopefully the industry in general) accepted the need for an easier-to-understand name. For this, the next standard, 802.11 ax, will simply be called Wi-Fi 6.
This simpler naming convention is also being adapted so that 802.11ac becomes Wi-Fi 5 and so on. The new Wi-Fi 6 standard is expected to deliver speeds at least four times faster than Wi-Fi 5, but it will also bring improvements in efficiency and capacity designed to handle the growing number of Internet-connected home devices. Like 5G, Wi-Fi 6 will complement, not replace, existing Wi-Fi standards.
