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4G network - 5 megabits to 20 megabits of data per second
3G network downloads at about 1 Mb or less in that time frame. Questions to consider in deciphering 4G technology By Roger Yu, USA TODAY As an ad campaign, "Can you hear me now?" is so yesterday. For wireless carriers, fat profit margins are found in data, especially in videos and heavy business files that drive subscribers to spend more time on their phones. U.S. wireless carriers have spent billions in building a new generation of network to handle the traffic onslaught. Called 4G (short for "fourth generation"), it is faster than the current 3G standard for data networks, and is rolling out gradually throughout the country. Phone manufacturers are also releasing a flurry of new models that run on the fastest networks. But despite heavy advertising, customers are still befuddled by the changes, made all the more complex by a flood of industry jargon and acronyms, says Berge Ayvazian, editor at 4G Trends. "You have no idea how much confusion is out there," he says. Here are some questions to consider when upgrading to a 4G phone. Q: How fast is 4G? A: Basically about five to 10 times faster than 3G. In theory, a fast 4G network can download 5 megabits to 20 megabits of data per second, says Roger Entner, an industry analyst at Recon Analytics. A 3G network downloads at about 1 Mb or less in that time frame. A large photo is about 8 Mb. There is considerable debate on the minimal speed required for a 4G network. The International Telecommunications Union, the industry's authoritative body in Geneva, has never specified the requirement, Entner says. "The (carriers') marketing department won. And the consumer is very confused." Few question that 4G networks are faster. But various factors can worsen performance, including network traffic, phone type, your proximity to a cell tower for the shorter wireless part of your call and the quality of the way traffic is directed across the wired lines of the network, where much of the data transmission takes place. Q: What are the different types of 4G? A: Carriers have a loose definition of 4G, which is mostly a marketing term. Independent analysts agree that the fastest 4G network is Long-Term Evolution (or LTE), which is being installed by both Verizon Wireless and AT&T. T-Mobile said Thursday that it will invest $4 billion in building out a 4G LTE network. The peak user rate for downloading data on LTE networks — best cases, in other words — can range from 6.5 Mb to 26.3 Mb per second, says industry group 4G Americas. Verizon has the largest LTE network, available in about 190 U.S. markets. AT&T's LTE, which is about a year old, is available in 28 markets. For non-LTE markets, AT&T runs a slower 4G standard called HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access), enhanced from the existing 3G network. The peak download speed of the HSPA+ used by AT&T can range from 1.9 Mb to 8.8 Mb per second, 4G Americas says. Peak speeds for T-Mobile's variety of HSPA+ ranges from 3.8 Mb to 17.6 Mb per second, it says. Sprint uses yet another 4G standard called WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). Entner considers it a "dead-end technology." Peak speed ranges from 1 Mb to 5 Mb per second, 4G Americas says. Sprint plans to introduce its LTE network later this year. With customers' appetite for fast networks growing unabated, the carriers will need more airwaves, called spectrum. The government plans to auction more in the next three years, but that will not be enough, Entner says. Q: Will my 3G phone work in a 4G network? A: Yes, but not at 4G speed. And on a 3G network, a 4G phone works only at 3G speed. Q: Are all 4G phones pretty similar? A: No. In selecting a new phone, it helps to find out the 4G coverage type in your area. Verizon Wireless customers have it easy since all their 4G phones are LTE-capable. AT&T is more ambiguous. Its 4G phone models are marketed as either HSPA+ or LTE phones. The LTE models can work on both networks. Analysts say iPhones — even the new iPhone 4S — are 3G phones. But AT&T's iPhone 4S runs on its HSPA+ network. Q: What specs should I look for in a 4G phone? A: A dual-core chip is important since it'll allow you to multitask and run videos more efficiently. Also, check the phone's battery life, Ayvazian says. LTE phones consume battery power "at least twice as fast" as other models because they're always looking for the fastest network signal, Ayvazian says. 3G smartphones aren't as active since 3G networks are extensive and you rarely fall out of coverage. Q: Who offers the cheapest 4G service? A: T-Mobile offers a $49 plan that caps data consumption at 2 gigabytes per month. Sprint offers a more expensive, but unlimited, plan. Two smaller carriers, MetroPCS and Cricket, offer plans that are cheaper than competitors. But their 4G service networks aren't as expansive. Q: Any efforts to standardize the 4G network? A: LTE will be the de facto 4G standard in the future, analysts say. But the type of radio spectrum varies among carriers, making it unlikely that you can roam on another 4G network. Roaming on 4G networks will be difficult because the carriers use different varieties of LTE. Q: Are there any 4G tablets? A: All the major carriers offer them. Q: Should I upgrade to a 4G phone? A: If you live in an area with 4G coverage and are due for a new phone, upgrading makes sense. But with faster speeds, you'll likely download more data. And if your plan caps data consumption, you could be in for a shockingly high bill if you exceed the limit. 4G is "nice to have, but it's not a must have," Entner says |