LTE vs. 4G: The Straight Goods on What You’re Actually Using

Ever wondered what the difference is between “LTE” and “4G”? These terms are often used interchangeably—but they’re not exactly the same. In this post, we’ll explain what each one really means, how they evolved, and why LTE still plays a vital role in modern connectivity—especially in the world of IoT.

What Was 4G Supposed to Be?

The original 4G standard was defined by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) in 2008. The bar was set high: 100 Mbps for mobile users and 1 Gbps for stationary users. This was meant to usher in a new era of mobile speed, reliability, and efficiency.

Enter LTE: A Game-Changer, but Not Quite 4G

Long-Term Evolution (LTE) was a major leap beyond 3G. However, early LTE didn’t quite hit ITU’s 4G benchmarks. It came close—so close, in fact, that many engineers called it “3.95G.” Still, in 2010, the ITU allowed LTE to be branded as “4G LTE” due to its significant performance gains over 3G.

LTE-Advanced: The Real Deal

As LTE matured, it evolved into LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), which introduced features like:

• Carrier Aggregation: Merges multiple frequency bands for more bandwidth
• Advanced MIMO: Uses more antennas to send and receive more data simultaneously

With these upgrades, LTE-A can achieve real-world speeds comparable to the original 4G promise.

FeatureEarly LTELTE-A (“4G+”)Peak Download Speed~100 MbpsUp to 1 GbpsLatency~15–50 ms<10 msCore ArchitectureEPC (legacy)All-IP flat core

What Does This Mean for You?

In everyday use:

• Standard LTE: Real-world speeds of 15–25 Mbps
• LTE-Advanced: Often reaches 40–100+ Mbps in optimal conditions

That’s more than enough for HD/4K streaming, large downloads, and video calls.

Why LTE Still Matters in the Age of 5G

LTE is far from obsolete:

• LTE-M & NB-IoT are optimized for low-power IoT applications
• LTE coverage is broader than 5G—especially in rural and industrial areas
• NSA 5G networks still rely on 4G LTE infrastructure

This makes LTE essential for smart cities, asset tracking, agriculture, and more.

Industrial IoT Runs on LTE

Industrial-grade LTE hardware is crucial for many mission-critical use cases:

• Low power, long-range connectivity
• Deep indoor penetration
• Reliable coverage across regions

Round Solutions provides industrial-grade LTE/4G modules, including those from Telit Cinterion, ruggedized antennas, and intelligent edge gateways like the IO-GATE—perfect for demanding industrial, logistics, and infrastructure environments.

Their IO-GATE even supports local edge processing, ideal for real-time systems with reduced cloud dependence.

Founded 1999 in Germany, we are a leading developer of IoT gateways & ODM services and Telit Cinterion's oldest, most trusted and licensed distributor. Round Solutions is proud to announce its partnership with Sunnyway‑IoT, the leading manufacturer of high‑performance IoT antennas in China. This collaboration allows us to offer an expanded range of reliable and innovative antenna solutions tailored to meet the demands of European industries, including automotive, industrial IoT, and smart city applications. Together, we are committed to delivering cutting‑edge technology that enables seamless connectivity and drives the future of IoT in Europe.

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