4G vs 5G: Practical Differences for Buyers (Speed, Latency, Architecture & Deployment)

Audience: mobile operators, system integrators, engineering contractors, and buyers of refurbished RRU/AAU/BBU/baseband gear
Purpose: help you choose equipment and plan upgrades with confidence

Key Takeaways

• Speed & Capacity: 5G delivers higher peak rates and per-cell capacity, lowering cost per bit at scale.

• Latency: 5G cuts end-to-end latency to the single-millisecond range (under ideal setups), enabling real-time control.

• Massive Connectivity: Up to ~1M devices per km² in 5G for large-scale IoT.

• Architecture: 5G Core (5GC) adds network slicing, MEC (edge), and a service-based architecture; access can evolve via NSA or SA.

• Spectrum & Site Design: 5G leans on 3.5 GHz and above, so small-cell density and indoor systems matter more.

Quick Comparison Table

The Three Pillars of 5G

• eMBB (Enhanced Mobile Broadband): UHD video, live streaming, cloud work, AR at exhibitions.

• URLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency): factory robots, remote control, protection relays, V2X.

• mMTC (Massive Machine-Type): dense sensors, metering, city infrastructure.

Selection tip:

• Video/backhaul/Wi-Fi replacement → eMBB-first.

• Robotics/AGV/mission-critical → URLLC with SA + local MEC.

• Large-scale sensors → mMTC; keep NB-IoT/eMTC in the toolbox for low-power cases.

Spectrum & Coverage: Why 5G Needs More Sites

• 4G commonly uses sub-3 GHz (good penetration and range).

• 5G often uses n78 (3.5 GHz), n41 (2.6 GHz), and mmWave. Higher frequency = more path loss, so 5G benefits from denser cells and better indoor systems.

Design tips

1. Urban hotspots: Macro + small-cell overlay to boost uplink and relieve crowding.

2. Campuses/factories: High-quality indoor systems + local UPF/MEC for low latency.

3. Rural/highways: Start with low/mid bands for coverage; layer higher bands for capacity.

NSA vs SA: Which Should You Choose?

• NSA (Non-Standalone): Reuses 4G EPC, adds 5G NR for data. Fast, cost-effective, ideal for capacity boosts; limited for URLLC/slicing.

• SA (Standalone): New 5G Core with slicing, MEC, ultra-low latency. Higher long-term value.

Pragmatic approach:

• If your immediate goal is throughput and capacity, start NSA and phase in SA.

• For industrial internet or strict SLA needs, go SA (or hybrid: SA in key campuses, NSA elsewhere).

Hardware Selection Checklist (RRU/AAU/BBU/Baseband)

1. Bands & bandwidth: n78/n41/B3/B7 etc.; single-carrier and total bandwidth; MIMO scale (4T4R/8T8R/32T/64T).

2. Power & thermal: output wattage, passive/active cooling, climate rating.

3. Fronthaul & sync: CPRI/eCPRI, PTP 1588v2/SyncE; precision timing for latency-sensitive apps.

4. Software & licenses: verify NR/LTE feature packs (CA, MIMO, NR enablement, slicing options).

5. Compatibility: confirm baseband↔RRU/AAU matrices (e.g., Ericsson Baseband 6630/6631/6648/6651; Nokia FSMF/FRGX/FRGT; Huawei/ZTE peers).

6. Form factor & site type: macro vs pole-mount small-cell vs indoor DAS; optical/electrical interfaces.

7. TCO: energy draw, spares, maintenance, and upgrade path—not just the purchase price.

Need drop-in replacements (e.g., for Ericsson 4415B7 or 2219B-series)? Tell us your target bands and power, and we’ll propose plug-and-play pairings from in-stock units.

Deployment Playbooks by Scenario

• Smart campus/factory

• SA + local UPF/MEC, uplink-friendly profiles (UL CA / power configs).

• Indoor system first; add small-cells at hot spots; keep latency-critical apps local.

• Urban hotspots/venues/stadiums

• 64T64R macro + small-cell densification.

• Prepare event-mode capacity and consider slices for premium users/services.

• Video backhaul/bodycams/UAVs

• Engineer for uplink throughput and stability; elevated sites help uplink SINR.

• Dedicated slice or APN improves determinism.

• City-scale IoT/metering

• Combine NB-IoT/eMTC for ultra-low-power devices with selective 5G overlays in dense areas.

• 
  

Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

1. “5G is always more expensive.” Per-bit cost and energy efficiency can be better on 5G in heavy-traffic zones.

2. “Only SA is real 5G.” NSA with NR is valid 5G and great for capacity uplift.

3. “5G coverage is poor.” With layered macro+small-cell+indoor design, user experience can exceed 4G in capacity zones.

4. “Everything must move to 5G.” Low-rate sensors may remain on NB-IoT/eMTC; choose the right tool per use case.

Procurement & Upgrade Template (copy & fill)

• Target bands/bandwidth: e.g., n78 100 MHz / B3 20 MHz / B7 20 MHz

• Antenna & MIMO: 64T64R (macro) / 8T8R (small) / 4T4R (indoor)

• Baseband/BBU: NR/LTE dual-mode, CA/MIMO, PTP support

• RRU/AAU: power __ W, CPRI/eCPRI, SW version, licenses

• Core: EPC (NSA) or 5GC (SA); need local UPF/MEC?

• Transport: 10G/25G/40G backhaul, PTP/SyncE

• Licenses: NR enablement, slicing, UL enhancements, CA, etc.

• Aux: rack/power/battery/HVAC; DAS components (couplers/combiners)

• Documentation: topology, IP plan, PCI/PRACH/params, acceptance tests

FAQ

Q1: How long will 4G remain relevant?
A: For years. 4G and 5G will co-exist, with 4G providing broad coverage and fallback.

Q2: Can I use 5G without a 5G Core?
A: Yes—NSA overlays 5G NR on your 4G EPC for quick capacity gains.

Q3: Do I always need 64T64R?
A: No. 8T8R/32T options can balance performance, energy, and site constraints very well.

Q4: When do I need SA?
A: If you require slicing, edge computing, ultra-low latency, or strict SLAs (e.g., robotics/campus), go SA.

Work With Us (Call-to-Action)

Haokang Base Station Equipment Trading supplies refurbished Ericsson / Nokia / Huawei / ZTE RRUs, AAUs, BBUs, and basebands—fully tested, with 1–12-month warranty and global shipping. Share your bands, power targets, and site type, and we’ll recommend ready-to-deploy kits.