Difference between LTE and GSM with table
We explain the difference between LTE and GSM with table. Today, mobile phones play an integral role in everyone’s life. With the advent of smartphones, many things changed in the communications market, with voice calls being one of the main advances made.
The growth in the mobile communications ecosystem has made the voice calling process so simple and fast. From the beginning, mobile networks have made continuous changes and advancements to overcome all barriers such as quality, capacity, and security.
Mobile network innovation has led to advancements from the first generation (1G) of mobile networks to the fifth generation (5G).
LTE and GSM are two different types of technologies that are used in phones for connection purposes.
The difference between LTE and GSM is basically in the way they transmit and receive information. LTE (Long Term Evolution) is a fourth generation (4G) communication standard, while GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) is a second generation (2G) and third generation (3G) mobile phone system.
Comparison table between LTE and GSM (in tabular form)
LTE GSM comparison parameter
It represents | long-term evolution | Global mobile communication system |
Mainly used for | It is mainly used for data calls. | It is mainly used for voice calls and low speed data services. |
Communication standard | Fourth generation (4G) | Both second generation (2G) and third generation (3G) |
Transmission | It uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) as a signal carrier along with other schemes, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA). | Both frequency division multiple access (FDMA) and time division multiple access (TDMA) were used. |
Channel number reference | Known as EARFCN | Known as ARFCN. |
Characteristics | The supported features are MIMO ((multiple input, multiple output), carrier aggregation, beamforming, etc. | The supported features are WALLS, VAMOS, SAIC, MSRD |
What is LTE?
LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. It is used for all wireless broadband communications on mobiles and other related devices. It is a communication standard that has been developed and advanced over time to ensure higher and better performance for all mobile communication systems.
It is designed in a way that guarantees services ten times better and faster than the third generation (3G) standard. The fourth generation (4G) has seen LTE as the latest step in radio technology advancements with the aim of increasing the speed and capacity of mobile networks.
All generations of mobile telecommunications prior to LTE fall into the 2G and 3G categories, while LTE falls into the 4G category. Basically, LTE is an upgrade for all operators with GSM networks.
LTE has increased capacity and speed by making use of a different radio interface along with significant network enhancements. LTE offers IP-based communication for both voice and multimedia. There is an algorithm that allows LTE to send large amounts of data over IP. This in turn helps streamline traffic and minimizes any type of latency caused.
Since LTE has multiple frequencies and bands, in various countries, it implies that only those phones that have multiband can use LTE.
What is GSM?
GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications. Provides wireless technology to describe protocols for second-generation cellular networks used by various mobile devices.
It came into existence in the 1970s and later, in 2010, it became popular all over the world, occupying 90% of the market share. As of today, GSM supports more than 1 billion mobile subscribers in around 210 countries around the world.
It is used to transmit mobile voice and data services and is the most widely used standard in telecommunications. It provides various services, from basic to advanced voice and data services. It also provides roaming services, which means that a GSM phone number can be used on any other GSM network.
GSM makes use of digitization and data compression. Then it sends it through a channel with two other user data streams, both of which have a different time interval that is between 64 kbps and 120 kbps.
The frequency band that GSM operates is 900 megahertz or 1800 megahertz.
The technique that GSM technology uses to transmit data is TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)
Main differences between LTE and GSM
- LTE is used to provide high-speed data services as well as voice call services, while GSM is used to provide low-speed data services and voice call services.
- LTE uses the fourth generation (4G) communication standard while GSM uses both the second generation (2G) and the third generation (3G).
- LTE uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) as a signal carrier alongside other carriers, while GSM uses both frequency division multiple access (FDMA) and time division multiple access (TDMA).
- LTE processes information using various transport channels, logical and physical, while GSM processes information through physical and logical channels.
- In LTE, frequency bands between 1 and 25 are used for FDD, while between 33 and 41 are used for TDD, while, in GSM, two frequency bands are used: 900 MHz and 1800 MHz as GSM 900 and DCS 1800.
Final Thought
With the advent of technology, there have been an enormous number of changes in the way communications are carried out and how data is exchanged.
LTE and GSM are basically the type of technologies most commonly used in mobile devices, such as phones, tablets, etc.
LTE is primarily what is the next generation of wireless technology for cellular mobile communication system, while GSM can be termed as the traditional radio communication system in mobiles.
The main area of distinction between the two is that LTE and high speed go hand in hand. LTE only supports data, while GSM and data are supported.
People often rely on LTE when high speed internet is needed and tend to rely on GSM primarily for voice calls.
LTE can provide personal broadband services that are not dependent on the user’s location. However, this is not possible on GSM. However, despite the various factors, GSM is the most widely used and widely used wireless technology.