long term evolution

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long term evolution (LTE), standard for wireless broadband communication technology. Mobile devices are categorized as LTE devices if they improve upon third-generation (3G) technology while still falling short of 4G standards. Specifically, devices use LTE if their mobile data download speed is between 3G’s peak performance of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) and 4G’s peak performance of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps). LTE, more than being just a label, is also a guide for telecommunications development. Technical specifications released by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) organization laid out the incremental steps for developing 2G and 3G networks, first into LTE systems and eventually into 4G systems.

The acronym LTE is a registered trademark of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) but is used with permission by countries and companies around the world. Like 3G before it, the speed and connectivity requirements of LTE were established by the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), an agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating international radio communications. The 3GPP then wrote technical specifications for meeting LTE requirements. Despite these clearly defined parameters, advertisers were soon permitted by the ITU-R to market LTE as fourth-generation technology, resulting in LTE and 4G often being used as synonyms. Adding to the resulting confusion, as LTE has matured, its more advanced networks actually have met 4G requirements. Consequently, the ITU-R now describes legitimate 4G technologies as “true 4G.”

LTE’s advances over 3G in data transfer speed and capacity were primarily accomplished through two major upgrades to telecommunication infrastructure. The first change was the introduction of a new radio access network (RAN) called EUTRAN (Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access Network), sometimes also called E-UTRA (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access). This new air interface system offered higher data rates, lower latency (time for a device to respond to information), and improved handling of packet data, or smaller units of data. The interface was incompatible with 2G and 3G technology, however, and therefore required a new radio spectrum on which to operate.

The second change was the replacement of the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Core Network—which enables 2G, 3G, and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) mobile networks to send Internet Protocol (IP) packets to external networks such as the Internet—with a new network called the Evolved Packet Core (EPC). Unlike the GPRS, which is a hybrid system combining the old telecommunication method of circuit switching with modern packet switching, the EPC exclusively used the latter. This fully IP-based architecture dramatically lowered operating costs by increasing data and voice capacity.

Further LTE-level developments since the creation of the designation have led to additional standards within the LTE category. The LTE Advanced (LTE-A) standard was released in 2011. LTE-A allows for faster speeds by aggregating channels, allowing users to download data from multiple sources at once. Most smartphones now support LTE-A.

A further step up from LTE-A was LTE Advanced Pro (LTE-AP), which featured important enhancements on three technologies: carrier aggregation, wherein different LTE carrier bands are combined to offer greater bandwidth; quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) of digital signals, which increases the rate at which data is transmitted; and multiple input–multiple output (MIMO) antennas, which are two separate antennas that transmit data on the same radio frequency allocated by a cell tower, resulting in faster speeds. Finally, there is gigabit-class LTE, a form of LTE-AP that can meet 4G requirements.

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Japanese mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo proposed the development of LTE in 2004, not only to advance wireless broadband technology, but also to unite the global market under one standard. On December 14, 2009, the Swedish-Finnish telecommunications company TeliaSonera activated the first commercial LTE network, providing LTE coverage to the cities of Oslo and Stockholm. The world’s first large-scale LTE network was deployed in the United States by Verizon in December 2010, covering 38 major cities. By 2016, more than 530 commercial LTE networks had been launched in 170 countries. At the end of 2022, the number of networks had risen to over 800—some 330 of them LTE-A with 4G speeds of 1 Gbps—and more than 85 percent of the global population enjoyed coverage.

4G LTE explained (Long Term Evolution) – Updated

It’s a worldwide standard for 4G wireless transmission data, the fourth generation of mobile network technology initiated in 2008.

4G LTE networks are the next generation from the existing 3G networks – Universal Mobile Telecommunications System UMTS or 3rd generation.

LTE full form – What does LTE stand for?

LTE stands for Long Term Evolution.

It was indeed a “long-term evolution” for mobile networks (based on 3G tech) when 4G came out in 2008.

The evolution took many years.

1G (First generation)

Let us talk to each other on mobile phones

Let us send SMS and travel (roaming)

Introduced some mobile internet experience

Brought fast internet experience

Brings super-fast Internet and much more

What does LTE mean on my phone? It means a fast internet connection. Mobile network generations: from 1G to 5G – Source Thales 2021

6G is already being defined and will be rolled out as of 2030.

4G LTE is a global standard and success.

Who’s in charge of defining and maintaining this technology?

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards group has developed and maintains LTE high-speed wireless technology.

3GGP unites telecom standard development organizations so that everybody uses the same technology.

And 4G LTE is a global success.

60% of mobile users have 4G LTE in Dec. 2023

LTE is a success worldwide, representing 60% of the 5.4 billion unique subscriptions connecting two-thirds of mobile users globally, according to the Global Mobile Suppliers’ Associations (GSMA 2023 report).

• 791 telecom operators are running LTE networks in 240 countries and territories across the globe.
• 336 have rolled out LTE-Advanced networks.
• 227 have initiated VoLTE networks.

LTE vs 3G

Is 4G LTE the same as 3G?

No. LTE means 4G, and the visible difference is speed!

• 3G (third generation of mobile communications introduced in 2001) theoretically delivers 7.2Mbps and up to 3Mbps in practice.
• 3G HSPA+ (the advanced version – High-Speed Packet Access+) or 3G++ delivers up to 42Mps and up to 6Mbps in practice.

4G LTE data rates with 100Mbps are 2,5 times faster than 3G HSPA+ and 15 times faster than 3G.

LTE vs 4G: who’s better?

What’s the difference between LTE and 4G?

Well, they are not competing. LTE is the technology behind 4G (the fourth generation of mobile communications – an architecture).

All 4G phones utilize LTE technology in 2022. It brings high speed to mobile and broadband data.

How fast is 4G LTE?

In theory, LTE’s maximum speed is 100Mbps. In practice, it tops at 15Mbps. Of course, it all depends on where you’re located.

But what is LTE-A?

LTE-A, LTE-Advanced, 4G+, and LTE+

LTE-A, LTE-Advanced, 4G+, and LTE+ are all acronyms for the same 4G service. It’s a faster version of LTE.

How fast is LTE-A? Again, in theory, LTE-A data rates are up to 300Mbps. In practice, you can expect between 40 to 90Mbps.

4G LTE features at a glance

LTE – often called 4th generation LTE or 4G LTE – have an all-IP flat networking structure. LTE is used for mobile, fixed, and portable broadband access.

LTE is designed for lower latency (the time it takes for data to travel in the network) and increased bandwidth – very interesting for the Internet of Things.

Bandwidth increases can be as high as 100 Mbps on the downlink and up to 50 Mbps on the uplink.

• The higher bandwidth enables faster access to content and applications, particularly video applications that can only be offered today on fixed systems.
• The low latency enables time-sensitive applications like voice services.
• The all-IP architecture enables new converging services based on the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS).

Voice over LTE (VoLTE)

What is VoLTE on your phone?

VoLTE means voice-over LTE. It’s an improved version of 4G LTE for voice and video calls.

In essence, you get HD voice and video calls, and it’s a great experience overall with better coverage and battery life increase.

If you upgrade to 4G LTE, ensure you also get 4G VoLTE.

4G LTE and India: Massive Expansion in 2020, up to 940 million subscriptions by 2024

Around 100m new 4G users were added in 2020, and 4G data consumption alone contributed to 99% of the total traffic in the country with a +60% annual growth, according to Times of India. Data traffic grew by 60 from 2015 to 2020. According to the Ericsson Mobility Report from November 2022, 4G subscriptions in India are projected to hit their zenith at 930 million by 2024, marking the country’s pinnacle for 4G LTE.

But 4G LTE is also decisive for IoT devices (connected things).

4G LTE for the IoT (Internet of Things)

There are three broad categories within 4G – which is mainstream to connect industry-grade IoT devices today.

• The LPWAN, a powered wide area network, has two variants, which are category M (Machine to Machine) (Cat-M or LTE-M) and category NB-IoT (Cat NB-IoT).
• The mid-range bandwidth is category LTE-1 (LTE Cat 1).
• The high bandwidth applications typically use networks called LTE Advanced (LTE-A) or LTE Advanced Pro.

4G comes in different flavours for connected objects. Here are some examples of IoT devices and their specific bandwidth needs. The suitable 4G LTE module can be selected according to the market.

LTE back-ward compatibility

LTE is compatible with existing mobile networks to provide maximum flexibility.

This feature encompasses deployed network technology, including GSM, cdmaOne, W-CDMA (UMTS), and CDMA2000 formerly.

Wi-Fi vs LTE

Wi-Fi was created in 2000 by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It is a set of wireless local (limited range) area network (LAN) protocols for short-distance connectivity.

Access to the Internet is most commonly done via a wireless router.

Wi-Fi is based on IEEE 802.11.

LTE is a broadband (unlimited range) wireless network technology.

First, Wi-Fi-certified products came with IEEE 802.11b (yes, b came before a).

How fast is Wi-Fi?

The theoretical speed for version b is 11Mbps and 5.5Mps actual. Version A offers 54Mbps in theory and about 20Mps in reality. The maximum range is 10m for version b and 140m for version a.

Wi-Fi comes in many flavours now, and speed performance improves with each new generation.

Before wireless – If you’re old enough to remember – network connections on a LAN or over the Internet were done via Ethernet wired connections or a modem over phone lines.

Wi-Fi works best for line-of-sight use, and walls, pillars, or TV screens (obstacles) may reduce range. Practical performance is also related to distance from the router.

Wi-Fi speed continues to improve with each new generation.

Is 5G the same as 4G LTE?

No, it’s not. LTE is a 4G technology.

5G is the fifth generation of mobile network technology. 5G does not replace 4G LTE. 4G and 5G work together.

5G network technology, 5G services, and 5G-enabled smartphones have started their roll-out.

Needless to say, there’s no such thing as 5G LTE.

4G – 5G- 6G milestones

• 4G (2008) networks brought all-IP services (Voice and Data), a fast internet experience, with unified network architectures and protocols.
• 4 G LTE ( for Long Term Evolution), starting in 2009, is doubling data speeds.
• 5G (starting in 2019) networks expand broadband wireless services beyond mobile Internet to IoT and critical communications segments with speeds up to X10 compared to 4G LTE.
• 6G : First commercial deployments are due by 2030.

When will 5G take over?

In short, 2019 was when 5G lifts off, and 2020 onward is when 5G networks and 5G phones will be available en masse.

ABI Research sees 5G overtake 4G by 2025.

But there’s more in 5G than speed.

Discover key facts about 5G technology and worldwide roll-outs in our 5G web dossier.

Now it’s your turn.

If you’ve something to say on 4G LTE, a question to ask, or have found this article helpful, please leave a comment in the box below. We’d also welcome any suggestions on how it could be improved.

We look forward to hearing from you.

У чому різниця між 4G та LTE? І що буде в Україні?

В Украине скоро заработает связь нового поколения. Мы уже объясняли, как определить совместимость смартфона с 4G, а также рассказывали о семи нюансах работы технологии в Украине. Теперь редакция AIN.UA объясняет, в чем разница между 4G и LTE.

В Україні незабаром почне працювати зв’язок нового покоління. Ми вже пояснювали, як визначити сумісність смартфона з 4G, а також розповідали про сім нюансів роботи технології в Україні. Тепер редакція AIN.UA пояснює, у чому різниця між 4G та LTE.

#1. Що таке 4G?

4G — це четверте покоління мобільного зв’язку. Формальною датою появи 4G став 2008 рік, коли Міжнародна спілка електрозв’язку встановила для неї стандарти. Згідно з цими стандартами, швидкість зв’язку для рухомих об’єктів (смартфони, планшети) має становити не менше 100 Мбіт/с, а для статичних (точки доступу) — не менше 1 Гбіт/с.

У 2008 році такі показники були недосяжними для телеком-компаній. Стандарти 4G стали умовною метою, точкою в майбутньому, до якої мали прагнути технології.

#2. Що таке LTE?

Протягом наступних кількох років компанії працювали над тим, щоб наблизитися до цих швидкостей. Так з’явився LTE (Long Term EVO lution — «довгострокова еволюція») — новий стандарт зв’язку, який спочатку позиціювали як покращений 3G.

Утім, Міжнародна спілка електрозв’язку вирішила, що стандарт LTE можна позначати як 4G, якщо він пропонує суттєві поліпшення в порівнянні з минулим поколінням зв’язку. Компанії одразу почали рекламувати свій зв’язок як 4G LTE, використовуючи маркетинговий прийом, завдяки якому вони могли говорити про «нове покоління», хоча так і не досягли його стандартів.

Якщо перефразувати, уявіть, що Ілон Маск оголосив про висадку на Марсі, хоча насправді лише наблизився до нього більш просунутому космічному кораблі.

Тому LTE — це лише покращений 3G. Цей стандарт відповідає лише деяким вимогам 4G, тому може називатися зв’язком четвертого покоління.

#3. Є ще LTE-A

Стандарт, який можна вважати справжнім 4G, називається LTE Advanced (LTE-A). 2012 року це офіційно визнав той самий Міжнародний союз електрозв’язку. LTE Advanced відповідає всім вимогам 4G, зокрема показникам швидкості.

Утім, важливо відзначити, що зв’язок у пристроях, підключених до LTE-A, може лише теоретично досягати необхідних 100 Мбіт/с та 1 Гбіт/с. За словами телеком-експерта Романа Хіміча, таких швидкостей смартфон із LTE-A може досягати лише в лабораторних умовах. «Насправді канальний ресурс ділиться між безліччю абонентів, тому фактичні швидкості передачі даних зовсім інші», — зазначає Хіміч. Але це не скасовує того факту, що LTE-A формально виступає стандартом четвертого покоління.

Відмінностей між LTE та LTE Advanced небагато — значно менше, ніж між ними та 3G. Головна особливість «просунутого» LTE — агрегація частот, тобто використання кількох частот одночасно. Це дає змогу, зокрема, збільшити швидкість передавання.

#4. Що буде в Україні?

Представники Київстар розповіли редакції AIN.UA , що для запуску 4G зв’язку в Україні компанія використовуватиме технологію LTE Advanced. У Vodafone зазначили, що параметри якості та швидкості мережі оператора «будуть дуже близькі» до LTE-A. Раніше в lifecell також розповідали , що мережу розгортатимуть на стандарті LTE Advanced. У телеком-оператора цей стандарт називають 4.5G, але насправді це звичайний 4G.

Важливо розуміти, що стандарт LTE Advanced підтримують лише смартфони з показником LTE Cat 6 та вище. Такими є не всі телефони на ринку. Наприклад, LTE Cat 6 та вище не підтримують iPhone до моделі 6S.

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