Rohde & Schwarz analyzes latency in public 5G and LTE networks

Rohde & Schwarz has conducted a series of measurements to evaluate the actual performance of commercial 5G non-standalone (NSA) networks compared to existing LTE infrastructure. The study, conducted in Munich, utilized the company's QualiPoc Android solution to gather data on both one-way latency (OWL) and round-trip time (RTT).

The findings indicate that 5G NR delivers lower latency than LTE, with the most notable performance gains occurring in the cellular uplink. Under optimal conditions, the measurements recorded an OWL of less than 7 milliseconds for downlink traffic at 100 kbps, while higher bandwidth scenarios of 15 Mbps showed latency levels around 18 milliseconds.

This analysis highlights the discrepancy between theoretical 5G performance targets and the real-world performance of currently deployed infrastructure. By focusing on stationary testing with standardized traffic patterns, the study provides a benchmark for assessing network reliability and responsiveness in mobile environments.