4G

4G

You’ve probably heard of it, but what is 4G? In short, it’s the name given to the fourth generation of mobile networks, just as the previous generation is called 3G.

Another piece of jargon, which you will see tagged onto the end of 4G is ‘LTE’. This stands for Long Term Evolution and is a type of 4G technology.4G LTE aims to offer users faster, more reliable mobile broadband internet for devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops.

Loosely speaking, 4G is around five times faster than existing 3G services.

 

4G is a collection of fourth generation cellular data technologies. It succeeds 3G and is also called “IMT-Advanced,” or “International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced.” 4G was made available as early as 2005 in South Korea under the name WiMAX and was rolled out in several European countries over the next few years. It became available in the United States in 2009, with Sprint being the first carrier to offer a 4G cellular network.

All 4G standards must conform to a set of specifications created by the International Telecommunications Union. For example, all 4G technologies are required to provide peak data transfer rates of at least 100 Mbps. While actual download and upload speeds may vary based on signal strength and wireless interference, 4G data transfer rates can actually surpass those of cable modem and DSL connections.

Like 3G, there is no single 4G standard. Instead, different cellular providers use different technologies that conform to the 4G requirements. For example, WiMAX is a popular 4G technology used in Asia and Eastern Europe, while LTE (Long Term Evolution) is more popular in Scandinavia and the United states.

Theoretically it can provide download speeds of up to 100Mbps but you won’t achieve this in real-world use.

Why do you need 4G?

So why do you need it? Well, there are several advantages of having 4G over 3G. You might think a web page opens quickly enough on your 3G connection so why bother? But 4G falls into the category of not knowing how much you want it until you have to do without it.

You’ll get better quality video calling on a 4G connection. Ever tried to Skype your family across the other side of the pond and been greeted with a pixelated mess? Or maybe you told a joke and they didn’t laugh until a couple of seconds later, or just not at all? With a 4G connection speed, you’ll get lovely clear images of your loved ones, as well as less delay (providing you tell decent jokes).

For those that love a podcast, 4G will help you download them in seconds and you’ll also be able to update apps quickly using your mobile data, rather than having to wait until you get home for a strong, sturdy Wi-Fi connection.

It’s worth making sure you have a decent data limit on your mobile phone price plan so you don’t go over your allowance but the 4G packages available now are much more giving than they were to begin with.

4G