5G Evolution (5GE) is an enhanced 4G LTE network that was first introduced by AT&T in the United States in 2018. It serves as a stepping stone on the path to full 5G connectivity.

5GE is not the same as true 5G networks. While 5GE aims to provide faster speeds through advanced LTE technologies like 4×4 MIMO, 256 QAM, and 3-way carrier aggregation, it still operates on 4G LTE infrastructure and spectrum bands. True 5G networks operate on new 5G spectrum and infrastructure and can achieve even faster speeds and lower latency.

5G Evolution utilizes many of the same technologies that will be used for 5G. By upgrading cell towers, radios, and other equipment to support these advanced LTE features now, carriers like AT&T will have an easier transition to 5G down the road. Although speeds are not as fast as 5G, 5Ge does offer a speed boost compared to regular 4G LTE. For AT&T customers with a 5G-capable device, they are experiencing the next step in the evolution toward the future of mobile connectivity.

Speed and Performance

5G Evolution offers faster speeds compared to regular 4G LTE networks. AT&T reports that 5GE enables peak theoretical speeds up to 400 Mbps. While maximum speeds depend on location and coverage, some early real-world tests show impressive gains:

• One test in Chicago saw 5GE with speeds over 300Mbps, compared to just 20–30Mbps on 4G LTE.

• Another test in Los Angeles clocked 5GE at 375Mbps down and 52Mbps up. In comparison, 4G LTE reached only 48Mbps down and 10Mbps up.

• OpenSignal found average 5GE download speeds were around 36Mbps vs 28Mbps on 4G LTE.

So while your mileage may vary based on coverage, 5G Evolution delivers a considerable bump in speed over standard 4G networks. The performance gains will allow for faster downloads, smoother streaming, and improved experiences for data-intensive apps and services. However, true 5G will ultimately enable even faster speeds compared to 5GE.

Availability

5G Evolution is currently only available in the United States through AT&T’s network. AT&T launched 5GE in 2019, making it the first major carrier to offer the technology.

The 5GE service is available in over 400 markets across the US. However, it has a limited coverage area compared to LTE coverage. You can check AT&T’s 5GE coverage map to see if the service is available in your area.

AT&T plans to continue expanding 5GE coverage in the coming years. The goal is to eventually roll out 5GE more widely as a transitionary network on the path to 5G. However, some experts predict it could take 3-5 years before 5G Evolution coverage matches the current LTE footprint.

Devices

5G Evolution is available on several flagship devices from major manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Google, LG, and Motorola. Some examples of compatible devices include:

• iPhone 12 and newer iPhone models
• Samsung Galaxy S20 series and newer Galaxy S models
• Google Pixel 5 and newer Pixel models
• LG V60 ThinQ 5G and newer LG V series phones
• Motorola edge+

To take full advantage of 5G Evolution speeds, devices need to have the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 or newer modems that support key 5GE technologies like 4×4 MIMO, 256QAM modulation and uplink carrier aggregation. Older devices without these modem capabilities may connect to 5GE networks but will not experience peak speeds. Overall, recent flagship smartphones from the last 1-2 years will be able to leverage 5GE capabilities once the network technology rolls out more broadly.

Use Cases

5G Evolution aims to enable new use cases that take advantage of faster speeds and lower latency compared to 4G LTE. The key categories of use cases are:

Enhanced Mobile Broadband

With 5G Evolution’s increased bandwidth and throughput, mobile users can enjoy enhanced media experiences like:

• Ultra-high-definition video streaming with less buffering
• Augmented reality gaming with smooth graphics
• Seamless video calls and conferencing

5GE enables more data-intensive apps and services for media consumption on the go. The faster speeds allow mobile devices to function more like PCs for productivity software, web apps, and cloud computing.

Low Latency Communications

By reducing latency or lag, 5G Evolution is suited for real-time applications like:

• Mobile multiplayer gaming
• Autonomous vehicles
• Remote control of machinery or robots
• Virtual reality experiences

Lower latency allows instantaneous feedback for time-sensitive use cases. This enables new industrial and consumer applications reliant on quick reflexes and commands.

Limitations of 5GE

5G Evolution lacks some key features of full 5G networks. While 5GE offers faster peak speeds than standard 4G LTE, it does not deliver the low latency, greater capacity, and full capabilities of standards-based 5G networks.

Some key limitations of 5G evolution include:

• No mmWave support – 5GE does not use the high-frequency mmWave spectrum, which provides multi-gigabit speeds on 5G networks. mmWave is limited to short distances, but enables the extremely fast speeds touted for 5G.

• Lacks 5G core network – The core network infrastructure and standards have not been upgraded for 5GE. It still relies on the 4G LTE core, rather than a next-generation 5G core.

• Peak speeds only – The faster peak data rates of 5GE are enabled through upgraded LTE Advanced Pro technologies. But average speeds are often much lower than these peak numbers.

• No ultra-low latency – 5G delivers extremely low latency down to 1 ms, which enables cutting-edge applications like remote surgery and autonomous vehicles. 5GE does not achieve the single-digit millisecond latency of 5G.

• Limited 5G use cases – The limitations of 5GE mean it cannot enable advanced 5G use cases that rely on mmWave, low latency, or greater capacity. The full capabilities of 5G are not achievable on 5GE networks.

So in summary, while 5GE offers modest improvements over standard 4G LTE, it lacks many of the transformative capabilities of real 5G networks. Consumers will need to wait for true 5G network rollouts to experience the full benefits of next-generation connectivity.

Comparisons to 5G

5G Evolution offers increased speeds over standard 4G LTE, but there are some key differences compared to true 5G networks.

Speed

• 5GE offers peak theoretical download speeds of around 400 Mbps. True 5G networks can offer peak download speeds up to 10 Gbps, with typical speeds over 1 Gbps expected.

• The latency on 5GE is similar to 4G LTE at around 30-60ms. 5G latency can be as low as 1ms thanks to new network architectures.

Frequencies

• 5GE utilizes the same frequency bands as 4G LTE, such as 700 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1900 MHz.

• 5G will utilize new high-frequency bands like 24 GHz, 28 GHz, 37 GHz and 39 GHz millimeter wave bands. This allows for faster speeds and lower latency.

Network Technology

• 5GE uses 4G LTE network technology. 5G uses a new radio access technology called 5G NR (New Radio).

• 5G also utilizes network virtualization and slicing for new capabilities like network slicing.

So in summary, while 5GE offers incremental improvements over 4G LTE, it lacks the transformative speed, latency and capabilities of real 5G networks being built today. True 5G will bring about the next generation of connectivity.

Future Roadmap

AT&T launched 5GE in 2018 as the pathway to transition customers to their future 5G network. While some critics have accused AT&T of misleading marketing with 5GE, AT&T maintains it is an important milestone and foundation for their 5G rollout.

AT&T aims to provide nationwide 5G coverage for millions of customers in the first half of 2020. They plan to do this by leveraging the sub-6 GHz and mmWave spectrums. Their early deployments will focus on dense urban areas, where 5G can make the biggest difference in network congestion.

In 2019 AT&T launched 5G in a handful of cities like Atlanta, Dallas, and Las Vegas. In 2020 they plan to greatly expand this 5G footprint to new metro areas across the country. Some key areas planned for AT&T’s 5G launch include:

The goal is to provide 5G access to as many customers as fast as possible. While the reach will still be limited compared to 4G LTE in 2020, AT&T is rapidly evolving its 5G network to be the foundation of connectivity in the 2020s and beyond.

Costs for Consumers

5GE is currently only available from AT&T in the United States. AT&T offers a range of plan pricing for devices capable of using 5GE:

• The basic unlimited data plan starts at €60/month. This includes unlimited talk, text, and data at 4G LTE speeds. Access to 5G Evolution speeds costs an additional €10/month.

• The next tier plan at €70/month offers some additional benefits like 15GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, but still charges an extra €10 for 5GE speeds.

• The premium unlimited plan at €80/month includes unlimited high-speed data and 5GE speeds by default.

• On the premium end, their Unlimited Elite plan at €100/month also includes 5GE speeds along with additional perks like HBO Max subscription.

So in summary, customers have to pay a €10 premium per month to get access 5GE speeds versus standard 4G LTE pricing. AT&T does offer 5GE included in some of its more expensive unlimited data plans, but overall there is an additional ongoing cost associated with utilizing the faster 5GE network if you want to keep your phone plan pricing low.

Conclusions

In summary, while 5GE is not true 5G, it does offer meaningful improvements over current 4G LTE networks. The performance enhancements and expanded coverage brought by 5GE will provide a better user experience for many customers today. At the same time, 5G Evolution helps lay the foundation for the eventual launch of full 5G networks.

Overall, 5GE is best viewed as an incremental stepping stone on the path to true 5G. It allows operators like AT&T to market the progress they’ve made in upgrading their networks while building excitement and educating consumers about 5G. However, buyers should understand that 5GE is not equivalent to the dramatic leap in capabilities expected with 5G. The speeds, latency reductions, and next-gen services 5G promises are still further down the road.

For now, consumers can enjoy a taste of what’s to come through upgrades like 5GE. But the full potential of 5G remains on the horizon, pending wider rollouts over the next few years. 5GE provides a glimpse, but true 5G will represent the future.

 

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