4G is the fourth generation of mobile phone communications standards. It is a successor of the 3G and provides ultra-broadband internet access for mobile devices. The high data transfer rates make this networks suitable for use in USB wireless modems for laptops and even home internet access.
A 4G system must provide capabilities defined by ITU in IMT Advanced. Potential and current applications include amended mobile web access, IP telephony, gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing, and 3D television.
The first-release WIMAX standard was commercialy deployed in South Korea in 2006 and has since been deployed most parts of the world
The first-release Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard was commercially deployed in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden in 2009, and has since been deployed throughout most parts of the world. It has, however, been debated whether first-release versions should be considered 4G LTE.
All 4G standards must conform to a set of specifications created by the International Telecommunications Union. For example, all 4G technologies are required to provide peak data transfer rates of at least 100 Mbps. While actual download and upload speeds may vary based on signal strength and wireless interference, 4G data transfer rates can actually surpass those of cable modem and DSL connections.
Like 3G, there is no single 4G standard. Instead, different cellular providers use different technologies that conform to the 4G requirements. For example, WiMAX is a popular 4G technology used in Asia and Eastern Europe, while LTE (Long Term Evolution) is more popular in Scandinavia and the United States.
Advantages of the 4G connection
Being one of the most modern wireless connections, it has a series of advantages that make it an excellent choice for many telecommunications customers.
Below you can see the main ones:
Faster than ADSL: The 4G is capable of speeds of around 100Mb, while the latest ADSL connection technologies barely allow a maximum of 30Mb.
Better to play on the Internet: Compared with other wireless connections, such as 3G, the signal delay, called latency or ping, is up to 75% lower.
Saturate less the network: This means that more users can be connected to the 4G network without it being saturated.
Disadvantages of the 4G connection
In the same way that the 4G has the advantages that you could see in the previous section, also
Limited coverage: While it is true that it is increasingly the part of USA territory that has this type of coverage, it is also not yet available beyond the most important urban cities.
Slower than fiber optic: Despite having higher speeds than other connections, compared to fiber optic is at a clear disadvantage, at speeds of up to 300Mb are commercialized.
A limited volume of data: One of the most important disadvantages. Both in mobile rates and 4G rates at home, data volumes are limited, and once completed, there is usually a drastic drop in connection speed.
Compatibility
Just as years ago the obligatory question was “do you have 3G?”, Today the same thing happens, although with different deadlines and answers.
Most of the high-end smartphones offered today have 4G, something that will continue to be useless if it is not used outside Argentina in a compatible network.
Device must clearly say that it works in LTE Band 4 or LTE Band 17. It is, in the frequencies 1,700 and 2,100 MHz and the 700 MHz respectively.
