What Is 4G

What is 4G?  Almost every I know has a phone but most of them have no clue what 4G is or if they have it on their phone.   As of the date of this article there is a good change they do not have 4G.  I have a brand new (December 2011) Apple iPhone 4S and it operates on Sprint’s 3G network.

The short, non-technical answer to 4G is this: In telecommunications, 4G is the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to the 3G and 2G families of standards.  In other words, it’s faster.

Back in the 80s phones were 1G (analog ) the first generation of cellular standards.  They went 2G (digital) in 1992.  They went 3G in 2001.  Finally, the fourth generation 4G began in 2011.  Each generation represented an advancement in the wireless technology which translates to greater speed, greater ability, and greater functionality.

A 4G system is expected to provide a comprehensive and secure all-IP based mobile broadband solution to laptop computer wireless modems, smartphones, and other mobile devices. Facilities such as ultra-broadband Internet access, IP telephony, gaming services, and streamed multimedia may be provided to users.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4G

Requirements for 4G

Peak speed requirements for 4G service at 100 Mbit/s for high mobility communication (such as from trains and cars) and 1 Gbit/s for low mobility communication (such as pedestrians and stationary users).  What does that mean?

Basically, for you and I this means 4G gives us up to 10 times faster speed than 3G.  Err… it should.  If it actually does is debatable.  Finding the actual speeds for each carrier is a chore in itself.  They love to tell you their network is SUPER FAST, but how fast is that?

• Sprint’s says it’s 4G average speeds = 3 – 6 Mbps (download)
• Verizon says it’s 4G LTE average speeds = 5 – 12 Mbps (download)
• AT&T says it’s 4G LTE average speeds =  Um… yeah ATT, how about a number and not just “fast” (contact me if you have this number)

Of course, speeds may vary based on plan and other factors – but the short version is this:  4G is faster than 3G and you probably have 3G since 4G isn’t available everywhere.  Yet.

Related articles

• Breaking Down 4G – LTE vs WiMAX vs HSPA+ (electronics-lab.com)
• AT&T’s 4G network is faster than Verizon’s (cnn.com)
• Sprint plans for LTE-Advanced 4G in early 2013 (electronista.com)
• Consumers Say 4G Is an Important Feature, But What Exactly Is It? (gottabemobile.com)
• Mobile 101: What is 4G? (cellfanatic.com)
• Report: Verizon offers nation’s fastest 4G service (cnn.com)