5G - 4G - 3G Standards:

Modern wireless communication relies on several cellular and radio standards, each designed for different performance, coverage, and application requirements. This article explains the differences between LTE (4G), GSM, CDMA, 5G, and ISM technologies, focusing on how they transmit and receive data and where each is best used.

These wireless standards rely on properly matched antennas and RF components to perform effectively.

Overview of Wireless Communication Standards

LTE (4G), GSM (3G & 2G), CDMA (3G & 2G), 5G and ISM. The fundamental difference between these four modern technologies is how they transmit and receive information.

5G Cellular Technology

5G promises to boost cellular data transfer to speeds rivaling the fastest fiber optic networks. 5G offers better broadband bandwidth, capacity, and reliability to levels far beyond 4G.

5G, which stands for 5th-generation wireless systems, consists of improved 5th-generation cellular networks deployed in 2018 and beyond. The networks use 4G or newly specified 5G frequency bands.

5G is designed to support three major use cases: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and massive machine-type communications (mMTC), making it ideal for IoT, automation, and smart infrastructure.

5G deployments require advanced antenna designs to support higher frequencies and MIMO configurations.

5G Frequency Bands vs. 4G LTE

The primary technologies behind 5G include 26, 28, 38, and 60GHz millimeter wave bands. These 5G frequency bands offer speeds as high as 20Gbps. Massive Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) 64-256 antennas offer performance speeds that are ten times better than the current 4G networks. Low-band and mid-band 5G use frequencies ranging from 600MHz to 6GHz (especially 3.5 – 4.2 GHz).

5G wireless frequency bands in the USA that are available and ready for use include 3100 – 3550 MHz and 3700 – 4200 MHz. In Asia, they include 3300 – 3600 MHz, 4400 – 4500 MHz, and 4800 – 4990 MHz in China, 3600 – 4200 MHz and 4400 – 4900 MHz in Japan, and 3400 – 3700 MHz in Korea. 3400 – 3800 MHz is available in Europe. America has already begun pre-commercial deployment for very high 5G MMW frequency bands 27.5 – 28.35GHz & 37 – 40GHz.

Compared to 4G LTE, 5G operates across low-band, mid-band, and millimeter-wave frequencies, allowing carriers to balance coverage, speed, and capacity depending on deployment requirements.

LTE (4G) – Long Term Evolution

LTE (Long Term Evolution) is a 4G communication standard designed to be 10 times faster than standard 3G. The technology provides IP-based communication of voice, multimedia, and streaming at between 100 Mbit per sec and 1 Gbit per second. LTE has an algorithm that can send large chunks of data via IP. This approach streamlines the traffic and reduces latency.

LTE is widely used for smartphones, IoT gateways, routers, and industrial cellular devices due to its balance of speed, coverage, and reliability.

LTE performance is highly dependent on antenna selection, cable loss, and connector type.

GSM (2G & 3G)

GSM is an abbreviation for Global System for Mobile Communication. It is a digital cellular technology used to transmit data and voice communication at a frequency range of 850MHz to 1900MHz. GSM technology uses a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technique to transmit data. The GSM system converts the data into a digital signal and sends it through two different time-stamped channels at a rate between 64 kbps and 120 kbps.

Although GSM-based networks are being phased out in many countries, GSM is still used in legacy systems and some low-data-rate IoT and M2M applications.

CDMA (2G & 3G)

CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. CDMA is a multiple-access mode of communication in which several transmissions are made over the same channel simultaneously. Using a speed spectrum, each transmission is assigned a unique code corresponding to the signal's source and destination.

CDMA networks have largely been retired globally, with most carriers migrating to LTE and 5G technologies.

Legacy cellular technologies still require compatible antennas and cabling for existing systems.

ISM Frequency Bands

ISM: Industrial, scientific, and medical radio bands are reserved for medical, scientific, and industrial use and are not intended for telecommunication. Originally, this band of radio frequencies was intended for use in industrial, scientific, and medical ISM machines that operate at this range in order not to interfere with the wider.

Common ISM bands include 433 MHz, 915 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz, which are widely used by Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, Zigbee, and proprietary IoT systems.

ISM-band technologies are widely used in IoT devices requiring short-range or low-power wireless communication.

Choosing the Right Wireless Technology

Selecting the appropriate wireless technology depends on data rate requirements, latency sensitivity, coverage area, and device power constraints. LTE remains a strong choice for most IoT applications, while 5G is ideal for ultra-low latency and high-throughput use cases. ISM bands are commonly used for short-range and low-power IoT deployments.

Wireless Solutions from Data Alliance

Data Alliance provides antennas, cables, and RF accessories designed to support LTE, 5G, and ISM-band wireless applications. Our solutions are used across IoT, industrial, and commercial deployments requiring reliable wireless performance.