4G or LTE? It's the same. Regardless of what we call it, the fact is that we are going to refer to a new type of connection that makes a leap in quality and speed with respect to the 3G that we have been enjoying for a few years in our country. As we have already told on tuexpertomovil.com, Vodafone launched the service last week in seven cities in our country, and in July Orange and Yoigo will be launched with their proposals. However, some users are confused about 4G. Is it just an evolution of 3G? Is it good for making calls? Does it cost the same as the service they already enjoy? Can all mobiles use 4G? How to start taking advantage of it?
To begin with, we will say that the fourth generation mobile networks that we know in Spain work through the so-called LTE standard, which stands for Long Term Evolution . It is a wireless communication channel that, in practice, works like the 3G networks that we have been enjoying. The main differences that make LTE so attractive compared to 3G are identified in speed and latency time. The first thing we can imagine. The 4G goes faster. Much faster, in fact. If we have a terminal connected by LTE to mobile networks, we could reach theoretical download quotas forup to 150 Mbps, which in upload would be up to 50 Mbps. But beware, talking about theoretical fees is not accidental. Only in cases where coverage is optimal and there are adequate terminals could we record these results. Vodafone ensures that its LTE has reached 132 Mbps in download, although the reality is that the maximum potential of its network will not be available for several months. Maybe even a year.
The fact is that Vodafone is resorting to a series of frequency bands to transport its LTE signal that do not make the most of what this service can give of itself. But not only Vodafone. The move of the red operator is given by the spur that Yoigo, in the first place, and Orange, in the second term, have applied to the telecommunications market, opting to open the 4G melon using the 1,800 and 2,600 MHz channels. What does this mean? In principle, less signal power, and consequently, less coverage. In order to get a more precise idea, the finer operation of LTEIt is proposed by the European regulator to operate in the 800 MHz band. In this band, the channel becomes more powerful, offering a higher quality. But that frequency will not be used until it is released. At the moment it is occupied by some DTT channels, and it will be next year when they will be able to be used by mobile operators.
In spite of everything, the companies that launch the LTE service in our country assure that operating at 1.8 GHz and 2.6 GHz the connection is up to the task. At least, in those points where the coverage is good. For the moment, only Vodafone has given estimates of the percentage of influence of the service in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca, making a distinction on the quality of the signal indoors and outdoors. This nuance is not accidental. One of the negative points of having rushed to resort to the aforementioned bands with which the LTE is released in Spainit is because, precisely due to the lack of adequate power, the coverage within buildings falls drastically. Thus, all summer applicants for connection LTE with Vodafone will reach its fourth generation coverage in 55 percent of the exteriors of these cities, reached the 25 percent in the interior. In September, those who do not have high-priced rates will have to pay almost eleven euros to access the service, but they will have more coverage: the proportion will rise to 85 and 60 percent of the territory, respectively.
Because, yes, in the case of Vodafone, you will have to pay for LTE. It is not that our data rate changes, but that the payment of the nine euros plus VAT gives access to the LTE network "" which, as we say, will not happen with the most expensive rates, that is, the RED3, RED3 Pro and the 10 GB bonus ””. Yoigo will not charge additionally for its 4G when it launches its service on July 18, and in the case of Orange it is still not clear what strategy it will employ from July 8, when it will open the LTE network to its customers.
But we have said that in addition to speed, which will depend so much on coverage, the 4G channel has another great advantage over the predecessor system: latency. Latency is the time that elapses between our device requesting an information packet and we receive it.. So said, it does not seem to be especially relevant, but perhaps an example is better illustrated. When we click on a YouTube video from the mobile to be able to see it from the mobile, the load takes a few moments until it begins to play, while it continues to load the rest of the content in the progress bar onwards. Well, thanks to LTEthis waiting time is literally eliminated: we press and we begin to see the sequence. No more. Another advantage that goes hand in hand with the improvement in latency time is in the practice of online games. There is already a large supply of this type of entertainment for mobiles and tablets, although operators have not just openly expressed their intention to exploit this attraction on desktop and computer platforms.
Because 4G is not only oriented for mobiles and tablets. It is true that this is its main market. But the matter might not stop there. Vodafone has declared that, in areas where it is difficult to penetrate with ADSL connections, the LTE solution seems very attractive "" resorting to terminals that distribute the service with wireless adapters, in the style of MiFi "". This, however, opens the debate on the very high data consumption that it can generate, and the way in which it is billed. However, it is still early to venture down this path. Another section that remains open, at least partially, is the use of LTE networksfor the transport of data packets used for voice. We are talking about an evolution in quality of the already known VoIP ”” voice over IP ””. Applications such as Skype, Tango or LINE allow us to make calls without resorting to the minutes contracted with the operator, converting communication into data as if we were sending text messages, and with the help of 4G, this utility would be significantly improved, both in quality reception as well as audio, which is close to the results of the still unknown ”” at least, for most customers ”” high definition voice system.
Having said all this, those who have been tempted to sink their teeth into the LTE apple will wonder how they can satisfy their curiosity. Not all phones, tablets, and USB modems on the market recognize these types of networks. There are even teams that require an update that, at the moment, does not arrive "" we are talking about Apple's iPhone 5 "". To be able to enjoy 4G, these networks must be recognized, and for it to be used today "" or between now and July, when, as we say, Orange and Yoigo will join the troupe "", the teams have to operate on the aforementioned 1.8 and 2.6 GHz networks.
Thus, users who prefer smartphones based on Android can choose from the Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Sony Xperia Z, Sony Xperia SP, LG Optimus G, HTC One, Huawei Ascend P2 Huawei Ascend G526. The Galaxy S3 and Note 2 are available in versions compatible with the LTE system, but they are not the ones marketed by the operators, so only free editions that come from markets where they are distributed would be valid.
Those who opt for Windows Phone, will see in the Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia Lumia 820 and Nokia Lumia 925 "" the latter, pending launch "" interesting proposals to get the most out of the LTE networks in our country. The BlackBerry Z10 also recognizes this communication standard.
It is convenient to be aware of another detail. During the activation of the 4G service, Vodafone releases an update that allows access to this type of connections. Yoigo and Orange will do the same. This is essential, since for the terminal to open communication with the necessary channels for data traffic through LTE, the software must be ready. We say this because free mobile phones could be in the same situation as the iPhone 5, that is, they depend on the update directed by the manufacturer itself. If we have a smartphone without an operator anchor, we should consult our company about the situation to avoid failures.
And with regard to tablets, the latest Apple releases (iPad Mini and third and fourth generation iPads) are 4G, but as with the iPhone 5, we must wait for Apple to release the update that makes it possible for the terminals communicate with LTE networks. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia Tablet Z can also be used in 4G mode. Likewise, we could also resort to USB skewers. We refer to those modems shaped like memory sticks that, when connected to the computer via USB, make the computer start browsing the Internet almost instantly. Vodafone will sell three of these own-brand skewers, and Huawei and ZTE are making special efforts to develop appropriate devices in this line.
