A must-read before you buy: what does the “4G” in 4G gateway mean?

Many of you may be considering introducing a 4G gateway, now used in many industries. This article explains what “4G” means in a 4G gateway and the role of a gateway, which you should check before introducing one. These terms are common today, so take this opportunity to go back to the basics.

What is 4G?

4G, also called the fourth-generation mobile communication system, is a communication standard that responded to the growth in data driven by the spread of smartphones. For this reason, it is sometimes called the mobile network technology for smartphones. Another feature is that, because of its higher speeds, it uses higher radio frequencies than earlier standards.

The history leading to 4G

Communication standards started with 1G, a mobile network using analog radio technology. Over time it moved to 2G and 3G, and eventually 4G, the topic of this article, appeared. 3G is still in use today, and in some areas where LTE or 4G does not reach, 3G does. This is because 3G covers almost 100% of the population. 4G is better in data volume and speed, but 3G is better in resilience to failures and population coverage.

How 4G differs from LTE

LTE is a standard similar to 4G, but what is it? LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. Because it was a technology that anticipated 4G, it is sometimes called 3.9G. LTE also appeared to make the move from 3G to 4G smooth.

How it differs from 5G

A new standard, 5G, has appeared in recent years, and it goes further than 4G. If 4G is technology for smartphones, as described above, 5G can be called mobile network technology that is not limited to smartphones. In fact, 5G is expected to contribute to remote medicine and autonomous driving, which will drive IoT further.

IoT gateway basics

The word IoT came up above, and gateways are in fact becoming part of IoT too. But what is IoT? The last sections cover IoT gateway basics: what IoT is and the role IoT gateways play.

What is IoT?

IoT stands for Internet of Things and means that all kinds of things are connected to the internet. Typical examples are TVs, speakers, and doors. As explained in the sections below, gateways are also becoming part of IoT.

The role of an IoT gateway

An IoT gateway has two main roles. The first is to send data from edge devices to servers through the gateway. Data is collected from sensors (edge devices) attached to all kinds of things and stored on servers after passing through the IoT gateway. Sensors basically have no function for connecting to the internet, but an IoT gateway can connect them to it.

The other role is to manage and control edge devices. Through the IoT gateway, edge devices can be controlled from the server. This lets you check the operating status of sensors remotely without being on site. If you also set up a system that regularly checks whether the gateway can communicate with the sensors, you can respond quickly if something fails.

How to connect an IoT gateway

IoT gateway connections are divided into those with edge devices and those with the internet. Wireless suits connections with edge devices because there are so many sensors, while a wired connection is recommended for the internet because it is stable. Details may differ depending on where the IoT gateway is installed, but basically, connect edge devices wirelessly and the internet by wire.

What to look for when buying an IoT gateway

There are several IoT gateways, so we recommend checking key points before deciding, specifically stability and security. Other points worth checking include the flexibility to connect with various sensors and devices and how easy it is to update the OS and firmware.

Summary

This article introduced basic information to check when buying a 4G gateway. Both 4G and IoT improve what gateways can do. However, there are many products, so keep the points listed in the second half of the article in mind when choosing.

We have published a brochure on edge gateways. See it below.

Recommended products

IoT devices

Edge Gateway (Outdoor) AG20