5G Low Latency And Why It's Lower Than 4G

Understanding Latency in Wireless Networks

Have you ever clicked on a link or sent a message and wondered why it takes a moment to load or respond? That moment of delay—the “lag time” you may notice during online activities—is called latency.

Latency measures how many milliseconds (ms) it takes for data to travel from one point to another and back again. Imagine shouting across a canyon and waiting for your echo to return—the shorter the wait, the smoother and more natural the experience.

Latency directly impacts how smooth, seamless and lifelike your online interactions feel. For example, high latency can make a video call freeze or cause awkward delays in conversations. In gaming, it might mean your character reacts slower than you intended, putting you at a disadvantage.

In this guide, we’ll dive into how advancements in 5G technology are dramatically reducing latency compared to 4G, why it matters and how it’s shaping the future of connectivity.

Typical Latency in 4G Networks

In 4G networks, latency generally averages between 50 and 100 ms, depending on factors like network congestion and distance to the server. While this is fast enough for basic, everyday activities like browsing and interacting on social media, it’s not ideal for real-time tasks that demand instant responses.

How Is Latency Measured?

Latency measures how many milliseconds it takes for a data packet to travel to its destination and back to your device. You can easily check your network’s latency using free tools like internet ping tests or speed test apps. These tools quickly analyze your connection and provide a latency score, helping you understand the quality of your network.

Now that we know how latency is measured, let’s dive into the key technologies behind 5G and how they deliver on the promise of ultra-low latency.

2. More Efficient Data Handling — Massive MIMO: Another key feature of 5G is something called massive MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output). Imagine adding extra lanes to a highway so more cars (data) can move at the same time without causing traffic jams. Massive MIMO uses many antennas to send and receive data simultaneously, allowing 5G networks to handle more users and devices without slowing down, even during busy times.

3. Edge Computing — Bringing Data Processing Closer to You: What if every time you asked a question, the answer had to travel across the country and back before you got it? That’s what happens with traditional networks that rely on far-away central servers. 5G changes this by using edge computing to process data closer to where it’s created — right near you.

By keeping data processing nearby with mini data centers, 5G can reduce delays (latency). For example, in smart cities, edge computing can process traffic data locally to adjust lights and reduce congestion in real time. In gaming, edge servers can provide faster responses, making gameplay smoother and more enjoyable.

4. Network Slicing — Customized Connections for Minimal Delays: 5G also employs network slicing, a technique that divides the network into virtual “slices,” each dedicated to specific applications or industries. Imagine a highway with different lanes reserved for specific types of traffic—one for cars, one for buses, and one for emergency vehicles. That’s how network slicing works in 5G. It divides the network into virtual “slices,” with each slice dedicated to a specific task or application.

This means activities like gaming or emergency communications get their own private lanes, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted performance.

For example, a hospital using 5G for remote surgeries can operate on a low-latency slice separate from other internet traffic, providing fast and reliable connections for critical tasks. Similarly, self-driving cars can use a dedicated slice to communicate with traffic systems in real time, ensuring safe and efficient driving.

While 5G represents a significant improvement over 4G in terms of latency, fiber optic internet remains the gold standard for speed, reliability, and low latency. Unlike 5G, which transmits data wirelessly and can be affected by environmental factors like signal interference or physical obstructions, fiber optic technology uses light to send data through glass cables directly to your home or business.

This wired connection delivers minimal signal degradation, symmetrical upload and download speeds, and ultra-low latency, making fiber an ideal choice for applications like video conferencing, online gaming and streaming that require consistent, high-performance connectivity.

• 4G Latency: Typically 50–100 ms
• 5G Latency: Typically 1–10 ms
• Fiber Optic Latency: Typically <1 ms

For context, a 50–100 ms latency on 4G might feel like a brief pause, while a 1–10 ms latency on 5G makes interactions feel nearly instantaneous. It’s worth noting that since network performance depends on factors like infrastructure and device compatibility, results can vary by location and setup.

These latency improvements aren’t just numbers—they have real-world impacts on the online activities you rely on every day.

• Video Conferencing and Remote Work: High latency on 4G can cause choppy audio, frozen screens and awkward delays during video calls, making collaboration difficult. With 5G’s lower latency, video calls are smoother and more reliable, improving our ability to connect remotely with colleagues or loved ones.
  
• Real-Time Data Analytics: Industries like finance and logistics often need to process data instantly to make quick, high-stakes decisions. While 4G can cause delays, 5G’s lower latency allows companies to analyze information faster and respond more efficiently.
  
• Emerging Technologies: Ultra-low latency isn’t just about improving current activities—it’s paving the way for future innovations like self-driving cars and smart cities, where real-time communication is essential.

• Autonomous Vehicles: Self-driving cars need to process vast amounts of data in real time, including information from sensors, cameras, and other vehicles. With 5G, cars can communicate faster and make decisions like braking or avoiding obstacles almost instantly, improving safety on the road.
  
• Telemedicine: In healthcare, latency can mean the difference between life and death. With 5G, surgeons can perform remote procedures with near-instant feedback, making telemedicine more precise and accessible for patients in remote locations.
  
• Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): Lower latency ensures smoother, more immersive experiences in VR and AR. This is critical for applications like training simulations, gaming and even virtual meetings, where delays can break the illusion of reality.
  
• Smart Cities and Urban Efficiency: Smart cities thrive on connectivity. Reduced latency enables the fast, efficient communication needed for urban technologies to work together.
  
• Traffic Management: 5G allows traffic lights, vehicles and public transit systems to communicate in real time, reducing congestion and improving travel times.
  
• Public Safety: Emergency response systems can receive and process data faster, helping first responders act more quickly and effectively.
  
• Energy Efficiency: Smart grids powered by 5G can balance energy demand in real-time, making cities more sustainable and reducing waste.

By making faster, more reliable communication possible, 5G’s reduced latency is set to redefine how we live, work and interact with technology.

2. Geographical and Environmental Barriers

• Coverage Gaps in Rural Areas: While 5G is expanding, building the dense infrastructure 5G needs can be expensive and time-consuming in rural and remote areas. Without enough small cell towers, these regions may experience inconsistent performance.
  
• Physical Obstacles and Weather: 5G’s high-frequency signals, like millimeter waves, are more easily blocked by buildings, trees and precipitation. This can weaken connections and increase latency in areas with many obstacles.
  

Addressing the Challenges

Overcoming these issues will require “smarter” technology and better infrastructure. Here are some strategies to help 5G deliver on its potential:

• Expanding Small Cell Networks: Adding small cell towers in cities can reduce congestion and strengthen connections where demand is highest. In rural areas, using lower-frequency signals that travel farther can help bring 5G to more people.
  
• Edge Computing: By processing data closer to where it’s created, edge computing shortens the distance information needs to travel, reducing delays in both urban and rural areas.
  
• Encourage Device Upgrades: Getting more people to use 5G-compatible devices ensures they can enjoy its full benefits, including lower latency and faster connections.
  
• Fiber-Backed 5G Networks: Utilizing fiber optic cables as a backbone for 5G can enhance network reliability and reduce the impact of congestion. Fiber’s ability to handle high-capacity data transmission ensures a strong foundation for 5G nodes and edge computing systems.
  
• Improved Signal Technology: Techniques like beamforming, which focuses wireless signals directly at devices, can help overcome obstacles and maintain stronger connections even in challenging environments.

By combining these solutions, network providers can work toward making low-latency 5G a reality for more people, no matter where they live or what they’re doing online.

Future of 5G and Ultra-Low Latency

The future of 5G holds exciting possibilities as ongoing advancements aim to push latency levels even lower. One major step is the move to 5G standalone (SA) networks, which work independently of older 4G infrastructure. By cutting ties with 4G, SA networks can deliver faster, more reliable responses, fully unlocking 5G’s capabilities.

Next-Generation Technologies Driving Ultra-Low Latency

• Advanced Network Slicing: Future network slicing technology will offer even more precise customization, dedicating specific “lanes” of the network for specialized tasks. For instance, factories using automated systems could get ultra-reliable, low-latency connections designed just for their needs.
  
• Quantum Communication and AI Integration: Researchers are working on integrating quantum communication and artificial intelligence to make 5G networks even faster and smarter. While still in the early stages, these innovations could further reduce latency and enable networks to adjust and optimize themselves automatically. Discover how EPB’s Quantum Network is redefining innovation and empowering groundbreaking research. 

Harnessing 5G's Low Latency Capabilities

Advancements in lower-latency 5G technology are unlocking incredible possibilities across a wide range of applications. From life-saving telemedicine to immersive virtual reality and real-time decision-making in industries like finance and logistics, 5G’s low latency is transforming how we connect and interact.

For scenarios where split-second responses are essential, 5G networks deliver seamless connectivity. When paired with the unparalleled reliability of fiber optic internet, 5G reaches its full potential. Fiber provides the robust, high-capacity infrastructure needed to support 5G’s blazing speeds and massive data demands, laying the groundwork for smarter, more connected technologies that enhance industries and everyday life.

When it comes to low latency, nothing compares to fiber optic internet’s near-instantaneous speed and unmatched performance. Ready to experience the future of connectivity? Discover the World’s Fastest Community-Wide Internet.