Today, reliable access to the Internet is an important part of a person’s life, providing access to work tasks, education, communication, and entertainment. One of the main technologies today is 4G LTE, which provides high Internet speed and reliable connection. However, many people do not understand the features of this technology and ask the question: what is LTE and how is it different from 3G? To better understand its capabilities, it is worth considering the main features of operation, advantages, and areas of application.
History of Mobile Networks
Mobile networks have come a long way in the last four decades. This evolution has not only changed the way we communicate but has transformed every aspect of our lives from work to play.
1G: Voice On The Go
In 1980, 1G networks appeared, which allowed users to make voice calls while on the move. The emergence of this standard was a stunning event.
2G: The Age of SMS
The 1990s brought the second generation of mobile networks, 2G. The key feature of 2G was digital data transmission, which allowed the introduction of a revolutionary technology at the time – SMS. In addition, 2G made international roaming possible, allowing people to use their phones abroad.
3G: The First Steps of Mobile Internet
In the 2000s, the third generation of mobile networks, 3G, opened the door to the mobile Internet. While the speeds were modest by today’s standards, they were the foundation of the smartphones we know today. 3G made it possible to check email, browse the web, and even make video calls on the go.
4G LTE: High-Speed Internet in Your Pocket
The real revolution came with the introduction of 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) in 2010. 4G LTE provided users with faster internet speeds previously only available on home broadband connections. This allowed users to not only download files quickly but also watch HD video and play online games on their smartphones without any hassle.
One of the pioneers of 4G LTE was Verizon, which launched the world’s first large-scale 4G LTE network in 2010. The speed of deployment is impressive: by 2013, the network covered 97% of the US population, which was a key factor in the mass adoption of this technology.
5G: The Future is Here
Since the 2020s, we have entered the era of 5G. This technology offers not only faster internet but also very low latency and the ability to connect a large number of devices. This opens the door to the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous cars, smart cities, and other innovations that previously seemed futuristic.
From simple voice calls to high-speed internet and the innovation of 5G, each network generation has not only improved on the previous one but also laid the foundation for the next. This evolution has not only transformed our phones into powerful smartphones but has changed the way we work, communicate, and interact with the world.
4G LTE: What Is It?
4G LTE is a fourth-generation wireless data standard that was launched in 2008. It is the next step in the evolution of mobile networks after 3G, providing significantly higher data rates and improved capabilities for mobile devices.
4G LTE is a combination of two terms:
- 4G is the fourth generation of mobile technology, the next big step after 3G.
- LTE (long-term evolution) is a term used in the industry to describe a type of 4G that provides the fastest mobile Internet.
When you see LTE at the top of your smartphone screen, it means you are using a 4G LTE network.
4G is the fourth generation of mobile radio communications, providing high data rates, voice quality, and support for various multimedia services. 4G uses IP technologies that allow the integration of different networks into a single global network. 4G is also characterized by dynamic distribution of network resources, smooth transition of subscribers between base stations, and reduced energy consumption.
The main 4G standards are LTE (long-term evolution) and WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access). LTE is a standard developed under the auspices of 3GPP, and WiMAX is a standard developed under the auspices of IEEE. Both standards support data transfer rates of up to 1 Gbps for fixed subscribers and up to 100 Mbps for mobile subscribers. In addition, there are extended versions of these standards, such as LTE-Advanced and WiMAX 2, which offer even greater performance and functionality.
What Are the Advantages of LTE?
LTE is based on the use of the Internet Protocol (IP), which allows data to be transmitted in digital form. This ensures high-quality data transmission and allows the use of mobile Internet for such tasks as watching videos, video calls, content distribution, and others. LTE has many advantages over previous mobile technologies such as 3G and 2G. Some of them are:
Increased bandwidth. LTE can reach speeds of up to 300 Mbps for downloading and up to 75 Mbps for uploading. In comparison, 3G can reach speeds of up to 42 Mbps for downloading and up to 5.76 Mbps for uploading.
Reduced latency. LTE has a latency of less than 10 ms for small data packets. In comparison, 3G has a latency of about 100 ms. Latency affects the quality of voice communications, video calls, and interactive online games.
Increased mobility. LTE can support subscribers moving at speeds of up to 350 km/h without losing connection. In comparison, 3G can support subscribers moving at speeds of up to 250 km/h.
Wrapping It Up
LTE is the fourth generation of mobile networks, which provides high data transfer speeds, minimal latency, and stable connections. This is a technology that has opened up new opportunities for users, from streaming video to fast data exchange in real time. If you are interested in what LTE is, then, first of all, it is a technology that has changed the approach to mobile communications, making it more accessible and effective for modern needs. If you are looking to improve the quality of 3G and 4G (LTE) communications in a country house, office, or city apartment using boosters, we recommend UCtel.
