Introduction to Next Generation

Although second generation (2G) networks still account for the majority of the world’s mobile connections, the appetite for mobile data continues to grow exponentially. Today’s iPhones, Android devices and tablet PCs are more powerful than desktop PCs were five years ago, and they could not have existed without the infrastructure provided by third generation (3G) networks.

But the massive worldwide uptake of 3G merely whetted the appetite for even faster speeds. Imagine the possibilities if these devices could be connected to the internet at speeds of up to 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) – much faster than your home broadband. This is now becoming possible through fourth generation (4G) networking technology such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), which is starting to gain momentum around the world.

Like its 4G sibling WiMAX, LTE is an Internet Protocol (IP) based technology, which sets it apart from previous generations of mobile signaling. The designers of LTE re-engineered the way that multiplexing (dividing up the time and frequency parameters of a signal) is used, in order to pack more data across a connection. As a result, LTE currently achieves download speeds of up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps) and uplink speeds of more than 50Mbps. (Source: 4G Americas.)

Compare that with your home broadband service, which, if you’re lucky, gives you 10Mbps, and you can appreciate the quantum leap that LTE represents. Consumers will appreciate the difference when they see how well films, video conferences and presentations work on their future smartphones using LTE connections.
 

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