LTE, or Long Term Evolution, is a a 4th generation (4G) mobile broadband standard and is aimed to be the successor to the 3G technologies GSM/UMTS. It is currently in development and is considered the competitor to WiMAX. Carriers will include Verizon, T-Mobile, Vodafone, AT&T, and many more worldwide.
Like WiMAX, this technology will provide broadband services wirelessly (like EVDO), but instead of transmitting signals via microwaves, LTE utilizes a radio platform. You will need a LTE modem to access the network, which can be in USB format, ExpressCard, PCMCIA, or embedded in a laptop; it will also likely be featured as the internet connection on PDAs and phones.
This super-fast network, which is promising peak download rates of up 100Mbps, will provide an alternative to DSL, cable, satellite, and dial-up internet, which will be a big boon to people living in areas that aren't currently serviced by a high-speed network. It will also free people from the burden of having to find a WiFi hotspot when they are on the road - as long as you have an LTE modem, you can connect to the internet anywhere in the service provider's coverage area!
Key Details:
- Downlink peak data rates up to 100 Mbps with 20 MHz bandwidth
- Uplink peak data rates up to 50 Mbps with 20 MHz bandwidth
- Reduced latency to 10 msec round-trip time between user equipment and base station
LTE deployment is considerably behind WiMAX, and it likely won't be widely available until about 2012 (Verizon has announced plans to launch their first LTE market in 2010). 4Ginfo.com will continue to report developments in coverage and products as news is released, and as soon as service is available, you will be able to purchase service and products at 4Gstore.com.
Links:
