Fourth Generation networks (4G) currently being developed for high speed broadband mobile use, will offer higher speed of data transfers (download/upload) and improved sound quality.  As yet undefined by the International Telecommunications Union, 4G involves Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) 3rd Gen. Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE) Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Fast Low-latency Access with Seamless Handoff Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (FLASH OFDM).

The ITU goal for WiMax is a download data rate of 10Mbps and uploads of 70Mbps. WiMax offers speeds of up to 4Mbps, a 75Mbps bandwidth, range of 50kms (30 miles) can handle around 100 users but has weak encryption (WEP/WPP). Older technology WiFi offers up to 2Mbps speed, 54Mbps bandwidth, 30m (100ft) range for 20 users but has stronger encryption (TDES/AES).

For LTE the download peak is 100Mbps and its upload minimum at least 50Mbps, but standards will make all data rates as competitive as LTE eventually.

3G versus 4G

3G (digital subscriber line) offers speeds theoretically ranging from 2.2Mbps to 14.4Mbps, real time location based services, full motion video, streaming music, 3D gaming and faster web browsing. By comparison 4G (wired network) adds quality streaming video, on-demand video, and video conferencing, quality Voice over IP (VoIP) and greater security.

Where 4G offers a speed range from 100Mbps to 1Gbps and also offers the unusual in that its intended devices are not restricted to phones and laptops, but include gaming devices, vending machines, refrigerators, ATMs, security and alerting systems. Just keep thinking what other electronic enabled equipment could use that facility speed link?

Japan first out of the gates


NTT Docomo announced its service for 37.5Mbs downlinks and 12.5Mbs uplinks in December, when it launches Japan’s first commercial 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocol service. It is the first of five companies, KDDI, SoftBank, eMobile and UQ Communications  working towards the widespread of 4G networks. WiMAX commercial deployment in Japan first started in July 2009, following a 5 month trial period.

NTT Docomo  is eventually aiming for 10MHz bandwidth throughput for maximum 75Mbit/s downlinks and 25Mbs uplinks in selected test areas. This month it began verifying its commercial mobile network system based on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) protocol in the Tokyo area.

The 2GHz network system comprises dual W-CDMA/LTE basestations, LTE core network equipment and LTE-enabled mobile devices. Docomo has been installing LTE basestation components on existing W-CDMA 3G basestations already equipped with dual W-CDMA/LTE remote radio equipment1, so easily upgraded for LTE service with the addition of an LTE base station digital equipment (BDE).

The LTE devices to be used in the pre-launch operation are theoretically equipped for  speeds of 100Mbs downlinks and 50Mbs uplinks.  

In the USA Verizon calls the shots

Verizon announced last year it would commercially launch 25 to 30 LTE markets by year-end 2010, covering 100m points of presence (POPs), matching its 3G footprint with LTE by the end of 2013 to make it one of the early operators worldwide with a widespread LTE network. It selected Sony Ericsson as its LTE network supplier.

Verizon Communications CTO Dick Lynch (right) is on record: "We are modelling the roll-out after our Evolution Data Optimised (EV-DO) deployment. So we expect to get to about the same level in the first year of deploying LTE that we got with EV-DO, which is about 25 or 30 markets. That is probably a reasonable estimate."

Earliest European player

TeliaSonera goal is one of the first operators in the world to launch 4G in Europe. It has chosen Sony Ericsson for an initial 4G city network in Stockholm and Huawei for Oslo with its commercial roll out in 2010 and it allows 20-80Mbps download speeds on a 4G-based LTE network (allowing a theoretical 4 simultaneous HDTV streams at maximum throughput!)

"It will be a joy (through 4G) connecting to services demanding large data volumes or fast data traffic," claims a TeliaSonera statement. "4G will be suitable for media and interactive services for which timing on the second is essential."

Back in January, Clearwire Corp launched its first 4G wireless network in Europe in Malaga, Spain  to cover the metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 people, and  the first 4G network in Spain as well as Clearwire's first WiMax launch outside its U.S. home market.

The European Commission (EC) confirmed  from 1st January 2010, it will invest £15.5m (€18m) into research to underpin future 4G mobile networks. The investment refers specifically to LTE  Mobile Broadband technology, which could deliver downstream speeds of up to 1Gbps (1000Mbps) via mobile networks.

Trials of  LTE  technology are already underway in Finland, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK. However Ericsson recently warned that it could be 2012 before the new tech could gain a foothold in the UK.

Dream on UK and Barra

Hunt for 4G in the UK  on the web, comes up with an actual
4G Resource but if you subscribe to the newsletter, it is sourced from 3G which just about sums up where the UK's mobile network operators are! Currently undecided upon what next generation of wireless network standard they wish to invest in.

O2 is running trials with Huawei, in a bid to choose between WiMAX and LTE and demonstrations of LTE technology by O2's parent company, Telefónica teamed up with Nokia Siemens Networks using LTE terminals and focused on download times and the video image quality.

Orange has no immediate plants to roll out 4G in the UK while 3 is attributes the onus on government. It is on record that "Operating LTE is dependent on us obtaining more spectrum...[demonstrating] how vital it is that the government and regulators move quickly to ensure a more even distribution of .. spectrum among UK mobile network operators."

Ericsson puts the UK entry at  2012  as  LTE technology is hampered by problems releasing the needed 900Mhz spectrum. Presently both O2 and Vodafone own some of the older 2G (900MHz) spectrum. Ofcom is seeking to have this redistributed to rival operators  - Orange , T-Mobile and 3 (Three). This could then convert for use by 3G/4G voice and mobile nroadband technologies, such as HSPA and LTE .

LTE may be what is eventually wanted. Consensus is that WiMax is what is available for now. Just as the promises of blazing speed broadband rollout still lags in UK reality, clearly the UK mobile user can forget 4G and its appeal for a couple of years at least.