LTE

What is LTE?

One of the main technologies that is set to become the replacement for 3G networks is a fourth generation or 4G technology known as LTE or Long Term evolution. LTE technology has been created to provide mobile broadband network providers with the ability to cope with a far greater number of users accessing their mobile networks and at the same time transferring larger amounts of data at much higher speeds. All these features will allow mobile network providers to handle the ever increasing number of mobile broadband and smart phone devices that are being used over their networks whilst at the same time improving the quality of the services they offer these users.

How will mobile broadband be affected by the rollout of LTE?

When mobile broadband providers do upgrade their existing 3G networks to LTE enable networks there will be a huge change in the way that users access mobile broadband in the UK. The improvements that LTE will make to the reliability of connections to mobile broadband and the speed at which users will be able to transfer data over an LTE network will allow users to do things over their mobile broadband connection that they previously would never have thought possible. Even at peak usage times an LTE network will allow users to transfer large data files, access online tools or applications and even stream movie or audio content over the network. This will give users all the benefits of a standard fixed line broadband connection but will allow them to do it from anywhere they want in the country.

Network coverage is another of the improvements that these networks will offer and when compared to the 3G networks that are being used now the LTE networks will offer a far greater level of mobile broadband coverage but will require less equipment to do this. Remote parts of the country and rural communities that currently find it difficult to get either fixed line or mobile broadband services will benefit the most from the rollout of the LTE 4G networks as it will provide high-speed connections that will cover huge areas throughout the UK.

What competition will Long Term Evolution have in the mobile broadband technology market?

The biggest rival to LTE at the moment is a technology known as WiMAX and this technology looks to offer mobile broadband providers with a range of features and benefits that are quite similar to those offered by LTE technology. The difference between LTE and WiMAX technology is, however, significantly different and the way it will be incorporated into existing networks may seriously affect which of these technologies mobile network providers opt for in the end. Many of the trials currently under way are with LTE technology and the mobile network providers testing this technology have reported quite favourable results so far, although this in no way guarantees that providers will definitely be choosing LTE as their next generation of technology and it will probably be decided once the industry decides which of these two technologies will officially be labelled as a 4G system.