What is 4G?

There is a lot of confusion surrounding 4G, the so-called next generation of mobile telecommunication technology. Some people anticipate that it will be coming up soon, others feel that it is already here, yet others think that it is still quite far off.

So which is true?

Before you can really make sense of the entire 4G confusion, it would be worth knowing what 4G is really all about!

4G Requirements and Standards

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 4G technology is meant to provide data transfer speeds of 100 Mbps while moving fast (in cars, trains, and so on) and 1 Gbps when moving slowly or remaining stationary.

This is supposed to be accomplished through either LTE Advanced or WirelessMan-Advanced technology.

Here’s the interesting part though: Neither of these technologies have been perfected as yet.

Bearing that in mind, why is it that some mobile networks are claiming to offer 4G technology?

Slow and Gradual 4G Rollout

Over the last few years, technology such as WiMAX and UMB have all been described as 4G by various parties – but neither of them fit the requirements and standards set forth by the ITU.

Similarly, current LTE technology is widely described as 4G as well – although it doesn’t fulfill the requirements either.

For now, the ITU accepts that LTE technology that is being rolled out with the view of being upgraded to LTE Advanced once it is perfected can be termed ‘4G’. This is where a lot of the confusion regarding 4G stems from and it is the reason why some people believe that 4G is already here.

Technically speaking, 4G technology has yet to arrive – it is just that mobile networks are already rolling out technology in preparation for it.

Advantages of 4G Technology

Without a doubt, the biggest advantages of 4G technology lie in the data transfer speeds that are nothing short of remarkable.

Because of the dramatically higher speeds that 4G technology can reach (as well as the much higher minimum speeds) technology such as video chats and conferences as well as mobile TV (and IPTV) will definitely be improved.

Also, with such speeds the possibility of HDTV on mobile devices is also starting to enter the picture.

To cut a long story short – with data transfer speeds that rival those of fixed broadband connections, 4G technology is expected to help bridge the gap between fixed broadband and mobile internet.

Despite the confusion surrounding its deployment, the truth is that the full release of 4G is definitely imminent. With the next release of LTE Advanced expected to hit the required speeds to qualify as 4G, it should just be a matter of time before mobile networks begin implementing this technology.

Add to that the fact that many networks have already begun laying the foundations by upgrading and deploying regular LTE networks and you should see that it won’t be long before the first few lucky people can enjoy the benefits of full-fledged 4G technology.

So if you’re looking to be amongst those people and want to benefit from the remarkable speeds of 4G, check out the following offers for 4G products!

What is 3g Commitment:

Cut through the confusion and start to develop a firm understanding of what 4G technology really is, what area it improves, and also when you can expect to see these services begin to be implemented.