A quick guide to 3G, 4G, 5G & beyond

Simply put, 4G is defined as the fourth generation of mobile technology. It followed the 2G and 3G networks that came before it, and, as you may have figured out, 5G technology is the next generation.

2G brought you calls and texts, 3G brought you mobile broadband data which gave your smart phone smarts, and 4G brings you increased data speeds allowing you to stream HD videos and scroll to your heart’s content on your mobile – even when you’re on the bus for your morning commute.

5G is faster and is built to relay more data than previous generations (4G and 3G). It has the potential to enable super-fast downloads, reduce latency to a minimum, and offer exceptional reliability.

Things to know about 4G

What is 4G?

4G is up to 10 times faster than standard 3G. Because we all love a good acronym, there’s another name that’s sometimes used for 4G services, which is LTE, and this stands for Long Term Evolution.

What to do to get 4G on 2degrees

• To get 4G goodness, you need to be in a 2degrees 4G coverage area and have a 4G -capable phone or device.
• All phones sold by 2degrees and most phones launched in New Zealand 2020 or later (except parallel imported phones) are compatible. Not sure if your phone supports 4G calling? Use our online IMEI checker.
• To confirm what frequencies your phone runs on, you can check out the specs on the manufacturer's site. 

Things to know about 5G

What is 5G?

While our 4G network already offers great performance, 5G takes things up a notch. As a newer technology, 5G builds on our existing network by adding more capacity and smarter capabilities. That means it can handle more people and more data at the same time.

If you are in a 5G coverage area and have a compatible device, you can enjoy faster speeds, even when things get busy. Think of it like adding a new lane to a busy motorway: everything flows more smoothly, even when traffic is heavy.

What to do to get 5G on 2degrees

2degrees provides 5G coverage in various regions across New Zealand, available to users with a 5G capable device.

We also offer 5G broadband, with improved wireless bandwidth. So, you can get more people online at the same time using 5G Wireless Broadband. Learn more here.

FAQs