Although markets around the world are deploying 5G technology at varying rates, Western countries are leading the way in introducing the technology. That's why we're no longer talking about what 5G might bring in the future - we're observing what it already offers. This is the right time to move from 4G to 5G. We recommend Teltonika's industrial routers, such as the RUTX50.
Around the world, mobile operators are shutting down 3G networks to free up bandwidth for 4G and 5G technologies. In countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and across Europe, the process is already underway. In Poland, operators are implementing the shutdowns in different time frames; some have already shut down, another part is in the process of shutting down, and the last ones intend to undergo the process in the coming years.
This carries two main consequences. First, the frequencies previously used by 3G are being redirected to newer technologies, resulting in higher network performance, higher speeds and lower latency.
Second, as a result of the 3G shutdown, older devices use 4G, which increases the load on the LTE network, which can become overloaded.
Therefore, for companies and individuals that rely on mobile connectivity, staying with 4G is no longer just giving up the benefits offered by 5G - it's also risking performance degradation as network load increases.
Although the actual performance of 5G depends on a number of factors, devices supporting this technology still outperform equipment based solely on 4G. In addition, LTE technology includes different categories that determine speed, capacity and overall connectivity. Older categories, such as CAT4 or CAT6, offer lower speeds and limited band aggregation capability, which causes problems in congested networks.
Most of Teltonika's 5G routers - such as the RUTX50 model - are equipped with LTE CAT20 fallback. This means that even in areas where 5G is not available, the device can achieve much better speeds than older LTE categories. CAT20 supports the aggregation of multiple frequency bands, which makes better use of the available spectrum and ensures a more stable and faster connection - even in congested areas.
By investing in a 5G-enabled device with LTE CAT20 as a backup option, companies ensure they get the highest possible performance on both 5G and advanced LTE networks.
5G is not just about faster speeds - it's also about higher throughput, lower latency and higher energy efficiency.
5G networks can support a much higher number of simultaneous connections than 4G, which is crucial in congested areas such as city centers, airports and industrial areas. In an overloaded 4G network, speeds drop, latency increases and connections become unreliable - negatively impacting not only autonomous vehicles or robots, but also businesses that rely on reliable data transmission, payment systems, cloud applications or critical communications.
5G's ability to support more devices ensures stable and fast connections even in harsh environments.
5G significantly reduces network response time, which improves the performance of real-time applications - such as remote monitoring or industrial automation.
5G networks consume less energy per transmitted data bit, making them a more sustainable solution for large-scale IoT deployments.
| Technologi | Maximum download speed | Maximum transmission speed | Actual speed (download/upload) | Delay |
| LTE CAT4 | up to 150 Mb/s | up to 50 Mb/s | ~20-40 Mb/s / ~10 Mb/s | 30-50 ms |
| LTE CAT6 | up to 300 Mb/s | up to 50 Mb/s | ~50-100 Mb/s / ~20 Mb/s | 20-40 ms |
| LTE CAT20 | up to 2 Gb/s | up to 200 Mb/s | ~200-400 Mb/s / ~50-100 Mb/s | 10-30 ms |
| 5G RedCap | 50-150 Mb/s | moderate | ~50-120 Mb/s / ~20-40 Mb/s | ~10 ms |
| Full 5G | 1 up to 10 Gb/s | over 500 Gb/s | ~500 Mb/s - 1 Gb/s / ~100 Mb/s | <5 ms |
Companies can carve out a dedicated portion of the 5G network for critical applications, ensuring consistent performance even during peak hours.
The RUTX50 is an advanced premium industrial router with dual SIM cards, five Gigabit Ethernet ports and dual-band Wi-Fi for high throughput and reliable connectivity. It supports 5G connectivity with download speeds of up to 2 Gbps, and the automatic failover function guarantees continuity of operation even if one of the operators fails. With support for VPN, firewall, MAC/IP filtering and remote management capabilities via Teltonika RMS, the router offers comprehensive security and configuration flexibility.
The RUTX50 is ideal for industrial applications where performance, reliability and resistance to harsh environments are key. It is used in IoT systems, industrial automation, monitoring, as well as in transportation and fleet management. Its versatility and ability to operate over a wide range of temperatures and voltages also make it ideal for critical infrastructure and applications requiring emergency connection backup.
With 3G networks shutting down, 4G growing and 5G technology maturing, the transition to the next generation of connectivity is no longer a question of if, but becomes a question of when.
From affordable 5G routers with CAT20 LTE functionality to the new capabilities offered by RedCap technology, 5G is more than just faster speeds. It's the foundation of a modern, future-proof infrastructure.
Whether you're managing critical infrastructure or developing IoT systems, upgrading to 5G is a step worth seriously considering.
