What does lte network mean. Why are LTE frequencies different in different countries? What is the difference between gadgets that support LTE
Currently, LTE networks are classified as fourth generation wireless communication(4G). The main advantages compared to the previous generation are high data transfer rates. This is an obvious plus for users. In turn, providers can use LTE technology to increase without installing new equipment.
The optimal coverage radius of an LTE base station is 5 km. If necessary, the specified range can be extended up to 100 km. Naturally, such a large coverage area is provided by installing the antenna at a sufficient height and does not imply its use in urban areas.
The world's first commercial LTE network was launched in Sweden in 2009. In Russia, the development of this standard has not yet received active support. This is due to the fact that in order to work with LTE networks, operators must have at their disposal frequencies of a certain range.
In May 2012, the Yota operator activated the LTE network in Moscow. Until that time, most services were provided using the WiMax channel. Active users of Yota got the opportunity to exchange "old" modems for equipment that works with the LTE channel in advance. It should be noted that before the launch of the LTE network in the capital, such channels were already operating in Novosibirsk and Krasnodar.
Slow integration of LTE technologies negatively affects development computer technology. This applies mainly to all kinds of tablet computers and communicators. A certain part of these devices supports the ability to connect to LTE networks.
The operation of LTE networks in Russia is ensured in such a way that when leaving the coverage area of the corresponding antennas, instantaneous switching to relatively old channels is carried out. Naturally, this function is supported only by those devices that can work with LTE, WiMax and GPRS channels.
Sources:
- how lte works
Mobile communication technologies are constantly evolving. In order to be able to provide customers with competitive services, cellular operators strive to use the latest achievements in this area. The most promising direction today is the commissioning of 4G class networks.
The 4G class today includes mobile communication networks created on the basis of fourth generation technologies. They are characterized by a high speed of information exchange, as well as improved voice quality. Unlike 3G, networks of this class use only packet data transfer protocols (IPv4, IPv6). The exchange rate is more than 100 Mbps for mobile and more than 1 Gbps for fixed subscribers. Voice transmission in 4G networks is carried out via VoIP. Currently, there are two technologies that are recognized as meeting all the requirements of 4G class networks. These are LTE-Advanced and WiMAX (WirelessMANAdvanced).
The development of LTE technology, which is the prototype of LTE-Advanced, was started in 2000 by Hewlett-Packard and NTT DoCoMo. This direction was promising, since even third-generation networks were just beginning to gain popularity. The technology began to meet the requirements of 4G only by the tenth release. However, since this standard could be used in existing mobile networks, it began to enjoy the support of cellular operators. The first network based on LTE-Advanced was officially launched in December 2009 in the cities of Stockholm and Oslo.
WiMAX technology is an evolution of the Wi-Fi wireless data transmission standard. It is being developed by the WiMAX Forum, established in 2001. A feature of WiMAX is the existence of various information exchange protocols for static and mobile subscribers. The first cellular communication network using WiMAX technology was opened in December 2005 in Canada.
Today, 4G networks are beginning to gain more and more popularity around the world. However, their implementation is associated with certain difficulties. One of them is that the high-frequency radio waves used in these networks penetrate extremely poorly through urban structures. Therefore (compared to 3G) many more base stations are required to provide good coverage.
We are used to being surrounded by mobile devices. All of them, as a rule, are connected to the Internet, which provides us with the possibility of unlimited communication, study, work, and entertainment. Today, without access to the network, we cannot even imagine our life!
Because the usual wired Internet(as, indeed, the use of dots WiFi access) does not give the freedom of action that Mobile Internet, respectively, on portable devices (smartphones, tablets) we use the latter. Such Internet services are provided by mobile operators using a SIM card. We will talk about how such a network works and what is needed in order to be able to use the mobile Internet all the time in this article.
What is mobile internet?
So, from the phrase itself presented above, it becomes clear that this is a format for connecting a device to the World Wide Web, which implies the absence of any wires or restrictions associated with the range of movement of the device (within reasonable limits). This means that you do not have to be near a Wi-Fi transmitter in order to access the internet. The user is able to sit in in social networks on the road, in the country and even outside the city, check mail, read the news and perform other similar tasks at your discretion. The only limitation, of course, is the need to be in your carrier's coverage area. Let's say, go to the taiga, where it "does not catch" even mobile network, and waiting for your VKontakte page to load is pointless.
Communication formats
Such an Internet, which does not require a connection to wires and is transmitted over long distances, functions in different formats and on certain frequency bands. Depending on this, 3 communication formats are distinguished: 2G, 3G and 4G (LTE). In fact, these are just different generations of the compound, which are listed in ascending order of their "innovativeness".
Of course, we are most interested in the newest format - what is LTE (in a smartphone or tablet, this marking indicates the possibility of working in 4G format). It is considered the most advanced in the world, since it was introduced relatively recently. Today, both in Russia and around the world, operators are building a network for data transmission using LTE technology. Accordingly, the subscriber base of users of such Internet is growing every day.
LTE (4G) is...
Thus, 4th generation communication is a format for providing mobile Internet services, which is already available to users from the Russian Federation. From previous generations, in fact, such a connection differs in the transmission mechanism and other technology. Thus, LTE has some features. These include, for example, higher download speeds.
For comparison in practice: the 2G format can download a movie in 6-7 hours, the third generation Internet - in about an hour; whereas LTE Internet is able to do it in 10-15 minutes.
To understand what LTE is in a smartphone, from which films are usually not downloaded, let's take the following example: the download speed of songs on the 4th generation Internet network exceeds the same parameter in 3G networks by 10-15, and 2G - by almost 40 once! Impressive, isn't it?
Devices that support 4G
Another feature of the LTE network are devices that are capable of supporting this type of communication. The fact is that not every device that accepts a SIM card can operate in the ranges of this type of communication. To find out if smartphones have 4G (LTE) support, you need to refer to the characteristics of the models. Some manufacturers also indicate 4G support in the name of the phone or tablet. Let's bring brief volume example.
On the website of the online store, you can see that the Asus Zenfone 5 (LTE) smartphone is for sale. Obviously, it is the last prefix that indicates that this device will be able to work with high-speed mobile Internet. If the name simply says “3G”, then most likely the device does not support fourth-generation communications.
Smartphones with LTE on Android
If you want to use high-speed mobile Internet in the future, we offer an overview of LTE smartphones - the most popular devices operating on the Android OS, which will make it possible to work on the 4th generation network.
To begin with, it should be noted that these include mainly the newest flagship models. This is due, first of all, to the short period of the presence of the Internet LTE in the domestic market.
As for the device models themselves, the best Huawei LTE smartphone is, according to reviews, the Ascend G6. Outwardly, he is strict and concise, has attractive design, hinting that the phone belongs to the "business" segment. At the same time, the device operates on a powerful quad-core processor, equipped with a display with excellent color reproduction. Of course, the Huawei Ascend G6 (LTE) smartphone is called, which indicates its ability to work with high-speed mobile Internet.
Another example is Lenovo's best LTE smartphone, the Vibe Z2 Pro. The device also has a full name containing the prefix LTE. It belongs to the premium segment and, by the way, is not inferior in terms of technical characteristics best models Samsung and Apple. True, the cost of the device does not lag behind its "manufacturability". The manufacturer also connected support for 2 SIM-cards to this model.
You can also remember what the world-famous Korean manufacturer has an LTE smartphone. Samsung offers its "flagship" models (Galaxy S5, S6, Alpha) with a fourth-generation mobile Internet support module. You can also learn about this from the characteristics of the devices.
Smartphones with LTE on iOS
Since we touched on the topic of Android devices, it would not hurt to mention Apple phones. So, according to official information, starting with the 5th generation iPhone, all the following models have LTE support. The user can enable or disable this mobile Internet format in the device settings.
It should be noted that this is done in order to save battery power. In fact, working on the fourth generation network has one big drawback - it's a quick discharge of the phone. Therefore, it is reasonable to call the manufacturer's move, granting the right to enable 4G support to the owner of the device in cases where he needs it. And "VP"-smartphones (phones running Windows phone) do not have such a function - in them, data transfer can only be disabled in general on the device.
Operators that provide 4G
Knowing what LTE is in a smartphone, you might want to connect your gadget to the Internet in this format. That's right, and who wouldn't want to surf the web at high speed? Therefore, most likely, information about 4G Internet operators operating in Russia will be useful to you. However, everything is clear here anyway: the same companies that serve subscribers in the field of mobile communications also offer high-speed mobile connection services. In particular, these are MTS, Megafon, Beeline and Tele2.
We should also mention one more "player" of the market, perhaps less well-known than others - Yota. special attention this operator deserves at least for the reason that all its tariffs are unlimited, and subscription fee depends on the speed at which mobile Internet services are provided. Actually, we will talk about tariffs in the next part of our article.
Tariffs for 4G mobile internet
In general, the logic of all companies providing communication services is the same: the presence of several tariff plans (usually 3-4), which differ from each other in the volume of the data package provided in 4G format. The most expensive plan may include unlimited megabytes or large amounts of data (36 GB, for example).
The cost of all plans ranges from 200-300 rubles of the Russian Federation for the simplest tariff and up to 800-1200 rubles for the one that will give maximum freedom in using the network. It is noteworthy that not everyone has unlimited packages. Therefore, be careful when choosing a tariff.
Let's put it this way: for a smartphone, the presence of 5-10 GB provides tremendous opportunities. For a tablet, this figure, of course, should be equal to 20-30 GB for more or less comfortable use.
How to connect to LTE?
If you have found out what LTE is in a smartphone and decided to connect, here you are the simplest instruction, which is universal for all operators.
First - decide on the tariff and the company from which you would like to order services.
Second - buy a SIM-card (meaning the starting tariff) of the operator in any communication salon.
Next, you need to activate the package by performing a combination of simple actions (for example, call the call center or dial *111# - it all depends on your operator). After that, you need to top up the number by the amount indicated in the cost of the tariff plan (this rule applies if you were not provided with a free data package as a bonus).
Ready! Your smartphone operates on a 4G network, and if there is a signal in the area where you are, it can receive and transmit data at high speed!
Features of use
As the feedback from users who have worked with the LTE network shows, the speed of its use is really pleasing. This can be especially seen now, while not many device owners use this technology. Experts note that over time, as the network fills with new subscribers, the LTE speed will also fall.
There are reviews that noted some of the shortcomings of the fourth generation Internet. The first one we already mentioned is high flow phone battery charge. Using the 4G Internet, you will "land" the battery on your smartphone in a matter of hours. Therefore, do not forget the charger at home if you want to use this data transfer format.
Some other users report possible internet outages. So, special programs for the test show that in the process normal operation devices come across moments lasting 5-10 seconds when the LTE Internet disappears. Of course, if you were downloading your favorite movie at that time, the download may fail, which is definitely an inconvenience.
In general, of course, the fourth generation Internet provides high mobility to its users. Try it and you might like it!
Technology does not stand still, and this is especially noticeable in the segment of mobile devices and communications. New gadgets set higher standards and give rise to new needs and requirements, first of all, in the quality of mobile communications and the speed of information transfer. One of the most interesting and promising areas today is the fourth generation of 4G communications, which, in theory, should provide increased quality of voice communication and a much higher speed on the Internet.
How is 4G different from previous generations of communication?
To understand the differences and advantages of the LTE standard and whether there is any point in a large-scale transition to 4G, you need to consider the key differences between this format and its predecessors, starting from the very first generation. Such was analog communication, which was actively used until the end of the 90s. Huge by today's standards, communications equipment in special cases-suitcases with a total weight of up to 5-7 kilograms - they worked on this standard.With the introduction of second-generation communications, the mobile device market has undergone a real revolution. Most ordinary users know this standard under the name GSM. There was an opportunity to connect to the Internet. The format remains popular and widely used today.
Third generation communication has qualitatively changed the idea of network speed on mobile devices. 3G includes several wireless technologies, the most popular of which are UMTS, EV-DO and CDMA2000. In theory, the maximum download speed should be 21 Mbps. In practice, these figures rarely even reach 5 Mbps. Watching online video, of course, is not very comfortable, but in most cases it is enough for ordinary surfing the Internet. Definitely faster than the same EDGE, and this, in the absence of an alternative, is very pleasing.
As for 4G, there is still no officially approved full-fledged network of this format in the world. For an authorized organization to officially “recognize” this protocol, it is necessary that it provide data transfer at incredible speeds compared to previous generations of communication: 100 Mbps for mobile electronics and 1 Gbps for stationary devices with Internet access. The most promising technologies, which, with a competent approach, have every chance of being called a full-fledged 4G, are the WiMAX and LTE protocols.
Main features and characteristics of the LTE standard
The principle of LTE technology becomes well understood from the decoding of this abbreviation: “Long Term Evolution”. In literary translation into Russian given expression means "long-term development". Companies involved in the development of the standard take into account all the errors and failures of the transition from one communication format to another. As practice shows, main problem is to ensure the compatibility of new technologies with old equipment and, of course, the costs required for a full transition.
In theory, LTE cells will be able to provide the highest quality communication at a distance of up to 100 km. This is especially true for remote and sparsely populated areas. For comparison, the maximum for the most common communication format today is a distance of 30 km. That is, it will be much more profitable for mobile communication companies to install one 4G point than several 3G or GSM towers.
The new format should provide higher quality head-to-head communications. GSM and 3G networks transmit voice in the band up to 3.5 kHz, which is a rather modest indicator. Modern technologies will be able to transmit voice in full mode, i.e. from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In practice, this should provide the most believable and realistic sound, as if the interlocutor is not talking on the phone, but is nearby.
At present, experts various countries active work is underway to improve and develop the communication format, experts are gradually approaching the previously mentioned data transfer rates. At the moment, the maximum that has been achieved is 173 Mbps for downloading information from the network and 58 Mbps for uploading. In practice, these figures are often reduced to 10 or more times, but even in such conditions, the “inferior” 4G is confidently superior in speed to third-generation communications.
A retelling of the publication "LTE to LTE-Advanced: What You Need to Know Right Now" by Dr. Stamatis Georgoulis, Aeroflex Limited. Basically, nothing fundamentally new.
The transition from LTE to LTE-A promises benefits both for the operator in terms of reduced OPEX/CAPEX and increased spectrum utilization, and for the subscriber in terms of increased data rates and network capacity.
LTE-A promises to enable true 4G connectivity, and for the first time IMT-Advanced requirements can be met. What problems should LTE solve in order to be able to evolve to LTE-A? How to start enjoying the benefits of the solution from the very first steps?
The article discusses the main drivers that drive the rapid transition to LTE-A, the benefits that are expected given rapid growth demand for smartphones, as well as the problems for network owners that are associated with this. It also looks at how LTE-A helps an operator reduce OPEX and CAPEX, as well as how it allows operators to make better use of expensive and fragmented spectrum to improve network coverage and capacity.
LTE-A also helps operators meet the challenge of making their communications technologies more energy efficient, and this article shows how this can be achieved. The article focuses on almost all new technological components that are associated with LTE-A - frequency aggregation, MIMO, self-organizing networks, interference control.
LTE-A. When and what
LTE-A is already with us and now it's time to discuss the benefits of this technology. The main reason is that LTE-A not only promises to speed up data transmission, but also can meet the massive demand for data service generated by users. We owe the growing volume of traffic to the growth in the prevalence of mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, the growth in the popularity of applications, especially social interaction applications that require a constant connection. As soon as a user acquires a smartphone, their consumption profile begins to change in the direction of increasing the volume of traffic, as the user masters the various capabilities of his device and downloads applications to it. In turn, this process leads to an increase in demand for continuous coverage, including coverage in buildings and communication services in public transport. According to a famous Cisco report, last years the number of mobile connections has surpassed the world's population and now stands at about 7 billion, as shown in Figure 1.
Benefits of LTE-A
So, how can LTE-A help us solve known problems? First of all, this technology improves network coverage and capacity, two key parameters that affect the user experience. Equally important, the operator will be able to save on operating and capital costs, which will allow the company to remain profitable. The benefits of technology that are inherent in LTE-A promise the possibility of faster implementation and faster detection and resolution of problems. This will provide subscribers with the possibility of faster connection, increase the quality of connection and the possibility of earning income for the operator.
Operators currently have an expensive but fragmented spectrum at their disposal. At the same time, there is a problem of return on investment, which cannot be solved without aggregating fragments of the spectrum and sharing them. We will talk about aggregation methods later, but it is important to understand that frequency aggregation (CA - carrier aggregation) is a key component of LTE-A, which allows you to use frequencies efficiently.
Finally, there is demand from individual consumers and society as a whole for cellular and mobile broadband technologies to become greener. Energy saving, in addition, has an economic justification. The use of interference compensation technologies in LTE-A to improve the signal at the edges of cells, in combination with the use of network self-optimization, as well as a large number small cells in a heterogeneous network provides a significant positive contribution to energy savings compared to 3G and LTE.
In addition to the above features, there are even more efficient technologies for example, the growing use of packet tracking or Doherty technology in base station power amplifiers, which also provide additional power savings. Relay switching in LTE-A is also one of the energy-saving measures, for example, a relay station can (RN - relay node) can remain in "sleep" mode if it is not in demand.
Advantages of LTE-A over LTE
1. Frequency aggregation.
- improved capacity
- flexibility in spectrum use
- better coverage
2. MIMO of higher orders
- high data transfer rate
- Spectrum efficiency
3. SON / smart heterogeneous network
- improved coverage
- improved energy efficiency
- abbreviation OPEX and CAPEX
- improved quality of user experience
- better overall network capacity
- faster development networks
4. Interference control
- lower data usage cost
- better coverage
- better overall network capacity
5. Relay switching
- better coverage
- better user experience quality
- improved energy efficiency
- faster network development
What is 4G?
Although operators are marketing LTE as 4G technology, in reality we are dealing with a certain delay in the transition to a new generation. Just as "mobile internet", which was offered back in 1990 on the basis of E-GPRS, became a reality only after the advent of 3G WCDMA, mobile broadband became a reality only after the advent of 3.5G HSPA, and not at the time of the advent of 3G. The high capacity and continuous connectivity expected from HSPA only became a reality with the advent of LTE. Thus, the real functioning of 4G will become a reality only with the advent of LTE-A. It can be argued that LTE is the prototype of LTE-A.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has proposed a list of recommendations that IMT Advanced 4G must meet. The goal is to provide a flexible, global, continuous mobile connection Based on an all-IP network with scalable bandwidth and high spectral efficiency, while providing low latency and fast mobility. Speed targets are 100 Mbps in mobile mode and up to 1 Gbps in peak mode. The 3GPP has named the specification with these parameters as LTE-A, which is described as Rel.10 3GPP LTE. The table below compares the ITU recommendations, the parameters provided by LTE Rel.9 and LTE-A.
LTE-A technology enablers
LTE-A is made possible by a set of technology enablers, each providing a performance improvement over LTE. The basic enablers are:
Frequency Aggregation (CA)
By combining blocks of frequencies called component carriers (CCs) as shown in the figure, frequency aggregation allows the use of fragmented spectrum and allows LTE-A to meet IMT-Advanced requirements, primarily the requirement to provide a data rate of 1 Gbps.
Frequency aggregation can be achieved through a hardware upgrade as well as downstream compatibility with 3GPP Rel.8. Frequency aggregation provides flexibility in spectrum use, but we are talking not only about using multiple 20 MHz frequency bands, it is also possible to aggregate small, non-contiguous frequency bands. Thus, the frequency band can change markedly to meet the needs of individual users.
However, providing CA support in subscriber devices is a real challenge.
Higher Order MIMO (HOM)
Higher orders of MIMO (in Figure 4) allow for better spectral efficiency, in terms of bps per Hz. But this again requires an upgrade of hardware. Higher order MIMO will provide LTE-A with up to 8 simultaneous transmission streams providing uplink and downlink spectral efficiency to meet IMT-A specifications. It is possible to use several cunning schemes for uplink and downlink, both in the case of single and multiple users. MIMO requires the use of multiple antennas, both at base stations and subscriber units - 8 streams would require 8 separate antennas at the device. In combination with multiple radios, which is also provided in LTE-A, this means that mobile devices can eventually become like a "porcupine".
Relay switching
Relays are a cost effective way to expand coverage in areas where fixed broadband is not economically viable. You can connect a chain of base stations that act as relay stations in the core network. The relay base acts as a subscriber device in the donor macro cell. The use of such a scheme allows you to quickly deploy the network, keeping the cost of equipment low compared to using a traditional backbone network. The use of relays is an efficient exchange of cell capacity for coverage area.
Self-organizing/self-optimizing networks (SON)
SON provides effective use heterogeneous networks (HetNets), hybrid networks that include small cells to improve the coverage and capacity provided by traditional macro cells. Several small cells can be placed in a macro cell using the same frequency bands to fill gaps in coverage and provide additional capacity.
Efficient use of SON can reduce OPEX as well as increase capacity. However, if the development of the network is chaotic, problems may arise. Coordination is needed to avoid loss of capacity. Dynamic adaptation is needed to maximize the effect achieved.
Some SON elements such as CGI messages and Automatic Neighbor Recognition (ANR) have already been implemented in Rel.8, Rel.9 has RLF improvements. But if LTE provides the baseline, then LTE-A, where the X2 interface appeared, provides the ability to exchange information; improved coordination of interference between cells; load balance; minimizing the need for drive tests (MDT); self-correction; energy saving. Release 11 also introduces Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP).
Figure 3 Three out of many possible frequency aggregation scenarios for LTE-A, where f1 is shown in gray and f2 is shown in blue: (a) f1 is used for coverage increase and f2 is used for data rate increase (f2>f1)
(b) Both frequencies used for boost bandwidth honeycombs;
(c) f1 provides macro coverage and f2 is used to increase throughput in hotspots.
Interference management (IM)
Interference control is another feature of LTE-A that is achieved by a software upgrade that can provide an increase in spectral efficiency (measured in bits/s per Hz/km2). This provides the benefit of more efficient sharing within a given area. The feature is dynamic and can operate in the range up to 100 ms.
Enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Mitigation (eICIC) is an extension of the interference control technology that was used in LTE Rel 8 and Rel 9. The difference is that this process is not transparent to subscriber devices and thus needs to be tested, for example, using the Aeroflex TM500 test mobile.
ECIC requires coordination between each of the network nodes that communicate with each other via the X2 interface. Typically, macro cells whose coverage areas overlap with those of one or more small cells can coordinate transmission with these nodes. This will help to reduce the interference caused by subscriber units in these cells in some subframes by limiting the transmission of macro cells to DL Common Reference Signal (CRS), no data transmission, during some subframes - this mode is called Almost Blank Subframes (ABS) - almost empty subframes. This reduces the interference at the edge of a cell formed by a micro cell or a pico cell, and also allows the micro and pico cells to form a "cell radius extension", increasing the coverage area during these subframes.
Results
All the improvements coming to LTE-A - SON, IM, small cells, HetNets - promise significant benefits for operators and subscribers. All of these components, when implemented simultaneously, increase spectral efficiency, increase capacity and coverage, and allow the network to serve more devices more efficiently.
These improvements are achieved through a combination of software upgrades and cost-effective hardware replacements. The combined effect provides a capacity gain of 2.2 times (Rel. 10 HetNet) compared to a network that uses only macro cells. In addition, the benefits of LTE-A are self-evident and tangible. For users, this technology promises an overall improvement in the quality of the experience and a reduction in the cost of data transfer. The operator will benefit from reduced OPEX and CAPEX by leveraging the "smartness" of HetNets, an option that is being rolled out. And also by further increasing efficiency as iron develops. Network vendors are already able to provide improvements to HetNets smart networks, soon to be followed by high-order CA and MIMO.
On various operating systems began to appear the possibility of working with LTE.
Since this is a relatively innovative feature, not all users know what it is for, what functions it performs, and why smartphones equipped with such an innovation cost a little more.
How networks work in the phone and what it is - this is described in this material.
Definition
LTE is a new data transmission standard for mobile phones, which has been actively implemented in Russian Federation since around 2014.
It has a number of advantages over traditional formats such as 3G and GPRS. It also has another name - 4G LTE, which is often indicated in the instructions.
Literally, this abbreviation translates as Long-Term Evolution. How did this new format come about? It was developed on the basis of GSM and HSPA technologies, which have been significantly improved.
It transmits data more efficiently due to the fact that it uses a different radio interface. In addition, the network core itself has been improved.
This standard quite easily entered into general use, including in Russia, as it has become a normal natural update for both operators and CDMA2000.
Coating
The features of the technology are such that many different bands and frequencies can be used for data transmission. Thanks to this, network coverage is extensive in all countries.
For example, in South Korea it is possible to use such a network in 97% of the country, in Japan - by 90%, in Hong Kong and Kuwait - by 86%.
Although in Russia the percentage of coverage is still not high compared even with Kazakhstan - 49% versus 81% (as of 2015).
At present, the situation has improved significantly. As of 2016, these networks are present in 83 regions of Russia, while 70% of the population (but not the country's territory) falls within the network coverage area. However, an unpleasant feature is the specifics of the work mobile operators– different operators provide different levels of coverage and signal quality.
Advantages
What are the advantages of this standard and is it worth buying a device equipped with it, although it costs a little more (although in Lately the price difference has almost completely disappeared)?
- The main advantage of this technology– high data transfer rate. In fact, it is able to provide very high-speed Internet, the speed of which is sometimes limited. technical capabilities phone. The speed of data transfer over such networks is much higher than over traditional third-generation networks - 3G.
- Various bands and frequencies can be used to work with LTE, which allowed it to quickly integrate in many regions. In addition, large coverage areas are achieved through this. In fact, now LTE can catch where 3G does not;
- Architecture of Internet networks over IP(that is, the scheme for transferring data from one server to another and, finally, to the user who requested them) is greatly simplified with this standard, which also has a positive effect not only on speed, but also on data quality. Crashes and errors occur less often on pages, phenomena when pictures, for example, do not load;
- Increased not only the download speed, but also the upload speed, as well as reduced waiting time.
There are several significant advantages to this format. from the point of view of the direct technological device of the network (this is an increased cell size, greater range flexibility, etc.). For the average user, such changes are expressed in the benefits described above.
Flaws
Until recently, a significant drawback of this format was considered to be a significant limitation of its action, which appeared because not all towers provided the ability to connect in this format.
There were quite a lot of "dead" zones, especially in the distance from large cities.
At the beginning of the implementation of this technology, it often turned out to be pointless to buy those equipped with it for this very reason - this technology did not work everywhere anyway (unlike 3G, which functioned properly, not losing much in transmission speed).
But in recent years, this problem has almost completely disappeared. The network coverage area is very large. In fact, now such networks are present in all the same areas as 3G.
Therefore, from this point of view, the technology has no shortcomings.
These networks cannot work with 2G and 3G networks. That's why they need it. At one time this affected the coverage area, but at the moment this problem is almost completely solved.
It is believed that such a standard has a slightly higher hardware load on the device., causing the battery to drain faster, as well as significant overheating of the device.
But to a greater extent, this concerned older devices that were slightly less optimized for the new standard of work.
At present, most phones do not get hotter during this operation than when working in 3G networks.
Specifications
Technical features of these networks and their difference from third generation networks are shown in the table below.
In general, when introducing such networks, partial or complete
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