Confused between 5GE and 5G. To clear your confusion in one line, 5GE is just another name for 4G (4G LTE-A or 4G LTE+). On the flip side, 5G is a true fifth-generation and successor of the 4G network. Continue reading this article to dive deep into 5GE vs 5G.
Communication has become increasingly effortless and convenient, surpassing all previous levels of ease. The year 1991 witnessed the inception of 2G. Later, in 2001, there came 3G, and the year 2009 welcomed 4G. But the 21st century has witnessed 5G, which is bringing the world relatively closer than the previous networks.
The 5G network is the fastest one to date and offers a lot of benefits. This is the reason for its widespread use. Every business, company, and even government agency is pushing for the use of 5G. Meanwhile, many telecom providers are promoting the use of 5GE.
But what exactly is 5GE and how does it differ from 5G? Let us explore 5GE vs 5G in this article.
What is 5GE?
5GE is an acronym for 5G Evolution. It is an alternative name for 4G LTE Advance Service. AT&T, the US telecommunication company, started using this term for 4G LTE service back in 2018. The primary reason was to stand out from counterparts by using a different name.
Why the name 5G Evolution? The reason is that the company started to market the network as a huge step up from the old 4G technology. In addition, many subscribers of AT&T were made to believe that they would be able to experience 5G without having to switch their mobile phones and pay extra bills.
Further, in 2020, AT&T stopped advertising 5GE, as it had introduced its 5G network. Still today, even with the inception of 5G, some AT&T users may see the 5GE network on their mobile phones when they can’t connect to 5G.
What is 5G?
5G, or fifth-generation, is the latest wireless cellular network. It offers extremely high upload and download speeds, improved capacity, and more consistent connections than previous networks. It is transforming the way people use the internet for accessing information, social media networks, and applications.
The most common use cases of 5G can be observed in self-driving cars, live media streaming, advanced gaming applications, and everything that requires a high-speed internet connection.
Besides the faster speed, 5G ensures low latency and higher bandwidth. It runs on all low, medium, and high bands, starting from 3 GHz used in 4G to 100 GHz and beyond.
Check out: How to Check 5G Bands Supported on Your Phone
Coming to speed, 5G users can experience download speeds of up to gigabits-per-second (Gbps) in an area with less to no network congestion. With this speed, users can download an average HD movie in less than two seconds.
How Fast is AT&T’s 5GE Compared to 5G, 4G, and 3G?
The speed of 5GE is slightly faster than 4G LTE or LTE Advanced, which most mobile network providers already offer. As it was an evolution or an advanced network to 4G, 5GE is a little bit faster.
When it comes to 5G, 5GE cannot beat its speed. The average speed of 5G is around 50Mbps and 1-10Gbps. On the other hand, the average speed of 5GE or 4G LTE is around 30Mbps and a maximum speed of 300 Mbps. You can notice that there is a huge difference between 5GE vs 5G in terms of speed.
Regarding 3G, 5GE is extremely faster, as the maximum speed of the 3G cloud only reaches around 3 Mbps.
Check out: How Fast is 5G? 5G vs 4G Explained!
5GE vs 5G – A Head-to-Head Comparison
Let us now explore the head-to-head comparison between 5GE and 5G.
| Parameters | 5GE | 5G |
| First appeared in | 2018 | 2019 |
| What is it? | A term coined by AT&T to represent an advanced version of the 4G network. | A new, fifth-generation network with high speed and bandwidth, and low latency. |
| Companies that use it? | AT&T | All major internet providers |
| Availability | Widely available | Available in a few areas of the world |
| Mobile phone compatibility | Works with your existing phone | Requires a 5G-compatible phone |
5GE vs 5G – Speed
| 5GE | 5G |
| The average speed is up to 30 Mbps. | The average speed can touch 500 Mbps. |
| Offers 1 Gbps peak download speed. | Ensures 20 Gbps peak download speeds |
| Less than 5 ms latency. | Less than 1 ms latency. |
As discussed above, 5G is the fastest network with the highest download speed. While 5G offers a download speed of upto 500 Mbps, 5GE offer something in between the 20-30 Mbps range.
5GE vs 5G – Compatibility and Availability
Another foremost difference between 5GE vs 5G is the device support and compatibility. To unleash the power of the 5G network, you need a 5G-compatible phone. If you are in an area of the 5G network, but your phone does not support it, you cannot enjoy the benefits of 5G.
On the other hand, you can enjoy 5GE with your regular smartphones. It is important to remember that if your device supports 5GE, it does not necessarily support 5G.
Moving to the availability of networks, you can experience 5GE everywhere. Conversely, 5G is available only in a few parts of the world.
How Do You Know If You Are On 5GE or 5G?
To check this, you must first have a 5G-enabled mobile phone. Not all smartphones support 5G.
Apple iPhone 12 and all the above versions support 5G. Many other Android-powered phone manufacturers, like Samsung’s Galaxy Note, Galaxy S, and Galaxy Tab series, support 5G.
The next thing you require is the 5G mobile plan to activate the technology. Ensure to check your phone carrier’s 5G coverage.
Recommended: Where is 5G Available in the US?
5GE vs 5G – Final Verdict!
While 5G is the latest wireless cellular network, 5GE is an advanced version of the 4G network or an alternative name to 4G LTE Advance Service.
Not only does 5G dramatically improves the speed of the network but also supports the large number of devices to be connected to the network. This, indeed, improves IoT capacity, and greater IoT capacity results in a faster exchange of information.
Ultimately, the use of 5GE and 5G depends on the location you reside and the network your internet service provider (ISP) offers.
I hope the above discussion helped you understand the difference between 5GE and 5G.
