4G Wireless Networks

3G and 4G networks were introduced through Telecommunication companies who provides the actual services. According to the ITU (International Telecommunications Union), 3G is known as the IMT 2000, which is a family of radio interfaces which evolved from previous generations to facilitate wider range of services and advanced network capacity. (“3G N & S”) 3G is the third incarnation of a line of wireless technologies. (“Comparison”) It offers various features including fast data transmission, advanced multimedia capabilities, and global roaming. 4G is the fourth generation of wireless communications currently being developed for high speed broadband mobile capabilities. (“What’s”) 4G is the latest incarnation in the line, and it offers even more features such as true multitasking, and even faster data transfer rates. (“Comparison”) ITU (International Telecommunications Union) includes the following technologies for 3G EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution), CDMA 2000 (Code Division Multiple Access), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems), DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications), and WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access). (“3G N& S”) The ITU (International Telecommunications Union industry identifies the following technologies for 4G: 3GPP LTE (3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution), UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and Flash-OFDM (Fast Low-latency Access with Seamless Handoff Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). (“What’s”) 3G networks are intended to facilitate smart phone advanced capabilities such as Higher data speed, Enhanced audio and Video Streaming, Video-Conferencing, High speed Web and WAP, and IPTV ( TV through Internet). (“3G N & S”) The 4G technology is being developed to meet Qos (Quality of Service), and rate requirements that involve prioritization of network traffic to ensure good quality of services. (“What’s”) These mechanisms are essential to accommodate applications that utilize large bandwidth such as Wireless Broadband Internet, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Services), Video Chat, Mobile Television, HDTV (High Definition TV), DVB ( Digital Video Broadcasting), Real Time Audio, and High Speed Data Transfer Rates. (“What’s”) 3G and 4G have many similarities and differences when it comes to service, applications, network architecture, data throughput, and user perceptions. 3G and 4G network architecture both are wide area based, but 4G is integrated through wireless local area network along with the wide area based. (“3G vs 4G”) The data throughput for both networks starts at 3 mbps, but 4G roughly goes up to 5mbps. (“3G vs 4G”) 4G has estimated its’ potential range up to 100 to 300 mbps. (“3G vs 4G”) 3G and 4G Network users were very satisfied with the upgrading of the networks, because the 3rd generation network was an improvement from the 2nd generation network which allowed users to have all features of the 2nd generation plus the innovative features of the 3rd generation. 3G Networks are readily available and competitive pricing which enables millions of users to access mobile technology in ways they never thought would ever exist. The 4G Network users have experienced outages and complaints about the coverage area, but when the Network is up and working they enjoy the speed of the Network. Users are always pleased to have the norms plus new technological advancements. The users that have a high demand for smart phones are able to determine the differences in the two networks. These types of users pay close attention to how long it takes them to access certain features on the network of which their using. The users realized the 3rd generation allowed their upstream and downstream speed to increase tremendously. This advancement allowed users to see there was an upgrade from the previous generation. The 4G users are aware that their now able to multi-task on their devices as well as surf the net while talking on the phone. Users who tried to multi-task in the previous generation are aware of the innovative changes the present generation has to offer. The 4G network allows the opportunity to choose from four different networks. The choices are 4G LTE, 4G WiMax, and 4G WiBro. 4G LTE network was created by Verizon Wireless. It has a data rate that exchanges speeds of 100 Mbps for download and 50 Mbps for uploads. 4G WiMax is the technology Sprint uses for its network. The data rate for this feature is 70 Mbps. The fixed WiMax provides speeds up to 75Mbps and the Mobile WiMax offers speeds up to 30 Mbps. The standard 802.16d is the fixed WiMax and the 802.16e is the Mobile WiMax. 4G WiBro has a rate of exchange data of 30-50 Mbps. WiBro has the ability to mark out a receiver that is stirring from one location to the next at the speed up to 74 miles per hours. The users of the 4G network are taking advantage of the advancements with what the 4G has to offer, but some are complaining about the poor connectivity, and at times no connectivity at all. The backward capability of LTE-Advance is LTE. The LTE terminal should be able to work in an LTE-Advanced. LTE network was designed to be backward capability of the of GSM and HSPA. The backward capability was designed for the mobile devices that may travel beyond the range of the LTE network. In the event, it is out of range of LTE, the device would automatically fall back on the 3G network if the required radio technologies are available. WiBro is an alternative for WiMax, and the both are backward compatibility of the 3G network. On April 19, 2012, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network coverage map showed their network coverage map showed their service covered two-thirds of the United States population. The coverage provides to 230 markets in the U.S. with expectations of coverage increasing to 400 markets and 260 million people by the end of 2012. (“Verizon”) Sprint’s 4G network was designed to provide broadband wireless access in an open Internet Architecture. The cost to performance ratio exceeds all other technology, and because of this it has access to millions of users. WiMax is a wireless Metropolitan Area Network that offers data and voice services without the high expense of cable or the DSL limitations. WiMax service availability is limited so it allows so many users on the standard and then cuts off any additional users trying to connect. WiBro is a radio service for broadband, and mobile access designed in Korea for the purpose of maintain connectivity on the go. The competition between the 4G LTE carriers have become an on-demand feature, because the customers needs are increasing along with many other interest that are causing more interesting factors in the mobile technology, of which has caused 4G LTE to become a competitive advantage. I believe the availability of mobile broadband technology speeds are directly competing with fixed line access technologies. People fill like if they can be on the go and have the same connection speed their use to at work or home then the demand for this product is increasing. LTE is designed for companies that want to have benefits of using Verizon’s high speed wireless also want to avoid the risks typically associated with sending data over the public Internet. (Reed 2012) The organizations with remote branch offices are willing to adopt the cellular enabled business layout plan which enables business gateways opportunities to offer permanent or back up WAN connections. A major factor that’s increasing this competition would be the governments of the undeveloped countries, and the need for global services by implementing this technology as a priority which will increase telecommunications access to rural areas that aren’t compatible with wired telephone infrastructures. This 4G LTE network has taken technology to another level, because of the benefits its has to offer. There are more than one carrier so prices are being knocked down for the services, data plans are very competitive due to the new innovations being discovered daily. It’s basically a race to increase network coverage, because of the demands of this world. Verizon is able to cover more markets than AT&T, because Verizon is truly a 21st Century company, and the mergers that formed Verizon were many years in the making, involving companies with roots that can be traced to the beginnings of the telephone business in the late 19th century. (“The History”) It was also the first carrier in the United Sates to offer a 4G LTE network. Verizon had an entire year ahead of AT&T to create and develop their coverage areas. AT&T launched its first network in September of 2011, and are still working hard to compete with this new innovation. Verizon began to develop their league at the point of them offering unlimited service plans, and other popular data-equipped handsets. Verizon made an investment in 17 million people through their customer relationships by delivering wholesale access through its third party resellers.

References:
Telephone: The first Hundred Years, by John Brooks, published by Harper and Row, New York, NY, 1976.
Reed, B. (April 18, 2012). New Verizon service brings LTE to private IP networks. Retrieved from: http://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/041812-verizon-business-lte-258375.html
Verizon’s 4G LTE network to cover 2/3 of US population after expansion. Retrieved from:http://www.androidauthority.com/verixons-4g-lte-networks-expansio-76596/
Comparison of 3G vs. 3GS vs. 4G Retrieved from: http://recomparison.com/comparisons/100457/comparison-of-3g-vs-3gs-vs-4g/ 3G vs 4G. Retrieved from: http://www.diffen.com/difference/3G_vs_4G
3G Network and Services. Retrieved from: http://www.wirelessinternet.org/3G-network.php
What’s this about 4G?. Retrieved from: http://www.wirelessinternet.org/4G-network.php
WiMAX - Making Everywhere a Hotspot. Retrieved from: http://www.wirelessinternet.org/wimax.php
Long Term Evolution - LTE Networks. Retrieved from: http://www.wirelessinternet.org/LTE.php Tech-Faq.com (2012) WiBro. Retrieved from: http://www.tech-faq.com/wibro.html