Generation 4g. Types of mobile Internet - deciphering abbreviations
Modern technologies, in particular the development of the Internet and wireless communications, have transformed the world beyond recognition. The population enjoys not only free access to all kinds of information, but also unique opportunities for communication and fun leisure activities. At the same time, the level of quality of the Internet connection, as well as the speed of data transfer, is of great importance. And in our time, the development of these technologies has reached unprecedented heights. Despite the widespread introduction of the new generation of communications, few people still know what 4G means.
1. What is 4G
4G in English means fourth generation. This is a promising generation of wireless communications, which has high data transfer speeds, as well as higher quality voice communications. This generation of communications includes such promising technologies that provide data transmission speeds over a wireless network of at least 10 Mbit/s to moving users. So what does 4G mean? This is the fourth generation of mobile communications, which has a lot of undeniable advantages.
Based on research and numerous evaluations of various 4G broadband technologies, which is known as IMT-Advenced. Based on the evaluation results, only two technologies were awarded the official title of IMT-Advenced. These are promising technologies LTE-Advenced, as well as WirelessMAN-Advenced. These two technologies today fall under the 4G standard - the fourth generation of wireless communications.
2. How 4G works
4G communication systems are based on packet data transfer protocols. This technology uses the IPv4 protocol to transmit information, but in the future it is planned to support the IPv6 protocol.
Modern 4G technology is of great importance in providing broadband Internet access in rural areas, since it is more justified to install one 4G station than to install a fiber optic connection. One station is capable of providing high-speed communications over tens of kilometers.
3. Benefits of 4G
Today it is very difficult to evaluate the advantages of high-speed fourth generation communications, since they are very numerous. Using such technologies, enormous amounts of all kinds of information become available to users. The need to wait for complex and consuming web pages to open, as well as long waits for downloading a large enough file, such as a movie, etc., are becoming a thing of the past.
It is the high speed of data transfer over a wireless network, as well as high quality voice communications, that are the main advantages of the fourth generation of 4G mobile communications. This in turn entails increased convenience and significant time savings, which is the main requirement of users. In addition, 4G mobile communications provide users with the opportunity to access the Internet absolutely anywhere (where there is 4G coverage) and at any time.
Thanks to the introduction of fourth-generation wireless communication technology, Internet television in high quality (HD) will become available to users. In addition, people will be able to create video calls as well as video conferences. 4G support for mobile devices opens up a lot of new opportunities.
4. WHAT IS 4G LTE: Video
Thanks to such technologies, many people will be able to perform certain actions remotely. For example, doctors will be able to manage robotic operating rooms while on another continent.
These days, there are several technologies that claim to be the fourth generation of mobile communications. These are technologies such as:
- TD-LTE;
- Mobile WiMAX;
- HSPA+.
Despite this diversity, most mobile operators choose LTE technology, and it is this technology that is developing in Russia and Ukraine. Currently, the data transfer speed in 4G networks based on LTE technology is about 30 Mbit/s, but in the future this figure is planned to increase to 300 Mbit/s.
4G communications are the future of wireless networks. Many users today have the opportunity to experience all the benefits of this technology for themselves. At the same time, once you try 4G, you will never want to go back to 3G and such a slow connection.
3G (UMTS) networks themselves were already quite advanced technology, and their later versions 3.75G with support for HSPA+ technologies were actually the forerunner of a new type of fourth-generation 4G communication. Ultimately, the main 4G standard became LTE, which was then upgraded to LTE advanced. The following requirements were announced for LTE advanced: the speed standard for moving objects is more than 100 Mbit/s, for stationary objects more than 1 Gbit/s. Unlike its predecessors, thanks to the new radio module, LTE no longer supports 2-3 main frequencies, but an entire frequency band from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz. Channels have become more broadband, and new types of signal modulation and a data transmission protocol that has become completely digital (including voice) provide higher speeds.
Comparison table of GPRS, 3G, 4G networks
| Network standard | Technology | Modulation | Data transfer rate (max.) to/from subscriber | Signal bandwidth, MHz |
| GSM | GPRS | GMSK | 20/20 kbit/s | 0,2 |
| EDGE | 8PSK | 59.2/59.2 kbps | 0,2 | |
| UMTS | R99 WCDMA | QPSK | 384/384 kbps | 5 |
| HSDPA | 16QAM/QPSK | 14.4/5.76 Mbps | 5 | |
| HSPA+ | 64QAM/16QAM | 21/11.5 Mbit/s | 5 | |
| DC HSPA+ | 64QAM/16QAM | 42/23 Mbit/s | 10 | |
| LTE | MIMO 2\2 | 64QAM | 150/75 Mbit/s | 20 |
About 70 standard frequency ranges, the so-called BAND, are allocated for 4G network equipment.
Used in Russia.
3 in the 1800 MHz FDD band; 7 in the 2600 MHz FDD band; 20 in the 800 MHz FDD band;
31 in the 450 MHz FDD band; 38 in the 2600 MHz TDD band.
Table of BANDs used by mobile operators in Russia
| № | Operator | Frequency range (UL/DL), MHz | Channel width, MHz | Duplex type | 3GPP number |
| 1 | Yota (Megafon) | 2500-2530 / 2620-2650 | 30 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 2 | Megaphone | 2530-2540 / 2650-2660 | 10 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 3 | Megaphone | 2575-2595 | 20 | TDD | Band 38 |
| 4 | MTS | 2540-2550 / 2660-2670 | 10 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 5 | MTS | 2595-2615 | 20 | TDD | Band 38 |
| 6 | Beeline | 2550-2560 / 2670-2680 | 10 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 7 | Rostelecom/Tele2 | 2560-2570 / 2680-2690 | 10 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 8 | Rostelecom/Tele2 | 832-839.5 / 791-798.5 | 7.5 | FDD | Band 20 |
| 9 | MTS | 839.5-847 / 798.5-806 | 7.5 | FDD | Band 20 |
| 10 | Megaphone | 847-854.5 / 806-813.5 | 7.5 | FDD | Band 20 |
| 11 | Beeline | 854.5-862 / 813.5-821 | 7.5 | FDD | Band 20 |
| 12 | MTS | 2595-2620 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 |
| 13 | Tele 2 | 453-457.4 / 463-467.4 | 4.4 | FDD | Band 31 |
The designations FDD and TDD indicate the types of signal processing FDD is Frequency Division Duplex (frequency division of the incoming and outgoing channel), TDD - Time Division Duplex (time division of the incoming and outgoing channel). In this case, if we have a channel width of 20 MHz in FDD LTE, part of the frequency range (15 MHz) is allocated for reception, and part (5 MHz) for signal transmission. The channels do not overlap in frequencies and stable loading and unloading of data is ensured. TDD LTE allocates the entire bandwidth for reception and transmission, but data is transmitted alternately, with higher priority given to data reception.
According to statistics, the most common LTE band in our country is 1800 MHz, and therefore you should buy a 4G signal repeater for this frequency.
4G LTE categories
Since the range of frequencies used is quite large, and almost every year improvements are invented for receiving and transmitting equipment (new types of modulation, support for frequency aggregation, and much more), special categories were introduced to standardize the equipment. The essence of these categories is quite simple - a higher category means a higher reception and transmission speed. The most widely used categories today are CAT3-CAT4. This means that the maximum achievable mobile Internet speed for reception (DownLink) can be 150 Mbit/s, for transmission (UpLink) - 50 Mbit/s. For the average user, knowledge of the category of LTE equipment is currently a very important factor, because... many new devices (for example, mobile phones or routers) may simply not support the required data exchange speed in hardware. Today, most new models of phones, modems and routers that support the LTE standard usually indicate a category number. Let's make a reservation that today devices of categories 5-6 are just beginning to appear on the market. Although in fact there are already 16 categories and more will be added, here is a table for the 14 main categories.
As can be seen from the table, starting from category 6 (cat.6), devices already have the new LTE-A (Advanced) standard. LTE-A is practically the same LTE supporting so-called frequency aggregation. Frequency aggregation allows a smartphone, router, or modem to operate on several frequencies simultaneously, thereby expanding the channel for receiving and transmitting information. In this case, the device is connected to several BANDs at once, which are serviced by the operator. Accordingly, this will be possible if the router or phone hardware supports the LTE-A standard.
So today, the theoretical Internet speed in 4G LTE networks from 1Gb and above is limited mainly by manufactured equipment, i.e. manufacturers have yet to catch up with existing standards... And 5G is already on the way, but we’ll talk about that a little later.
Life is becoming faster and the information atmosphere is becoming denser. Today it is not enough for us to stay in touch with a simple cell phone; we need to be fully included in the information space. Social networks, chats, IP telephony, video calls - all these delights require a constant connection to the Internet. In principle, it is not so difficult to ensure your online status - even an inexpensive phone today supports GPRS and EDGE standards. But when it comes to a fast connection, then everything is not so simple, because there is a choice. And choice, as you know, brings torment.
So, to get high-speed mobile Internet, we can take one of three paths:
- GPRS /EDGE / Internet from cellular operators
- Internet from Skylink
- New Internet from Yota and mobile operators
Mobile Internet from MTS, Beeline or Megafon
The most common and easiest way to provide yourself with mobile Internet has long been available in Russia. This is a data exchange service provided by operators according to GPRS, EDGE and . Strictly speaking, this is not a standard, but a collective term behind which a number of standards are hidden. Top smartphones and modems support the fastest HSPA+ standard, while budget devices support EDGE. For the average user, however, such subtleties are neither warm nor cold. Why? More on this later. For now, it’s enough to understand one thing: if the device supports, it means it can provide its owner with high-speed Internet access. If there are problems with the signal, the device itself will switch to slower standards: EDGE or GPRS.
The advantages of GSM Internet are:
Coverage area
However, in practice, everything is not so simple: “Changes, disturbances, malfunctions, permanent or temporary interruptions or delays in the propagation of radio waves caused by natural phenomena, including lunar and solar phenomena, due to local terrain and development features, meteorological conditions; interference that impedes signal reception associated with the location and conditions of the subscriber equipment, including near buildings, in tunnels, in basements, basement-type rooms and other underground structures” - all this affects the availability and strength of the signal.
As a result, in the very center of Moscow we may find ourselves in a situation where there will be no “high-speed mobile Internet” at all. Thank God that GPRS and EDGE coverage is available almost everywhere and, if you have a GSM device with support or EDGE, then in 99% of cases you will definitely not be left without the Internet. By the way, GSM is the only technology that allows you to somehow enjoy the Internet in the metro.
Versatility
3G Internet is the most common type of Internet, and therefore 99% of all smartphones, tablets, phones and USB modems work on this wavelength, in the GSM standard.
Price
Previously, the mobile Internet was a sure way to an empty wallet. Today, times are different - operators offer a lot of tariff plans and options, including various types of unlimited access, so if you have 150 rubles in your pocket, then there will be no problems with unlimited mobile Internet. But note: “unlimited” Internet from a GSM operator still has some restrictions - this is the amount of downloaded traffic per day or per month, depending on the tariff.
What about the cons?
Speed
Yes, the main disadvantage of mobile high-speed Internet is speed. Paradoxical but true! The specificity of GSM networks is such that the more people per unit of time are connected to the channel, the less its capacity becomes. Add to this the problem of coverage area (“lunar and solar phenomena”) and as a result, with a maximum theoretical speed of 28.8 Mbit/s (HSPA+) or 14.4 Mbit/s (HSDPA), we may not get even a third of what was promised , or even end up in the EDGE Internet. Let us remember that ideally EDGE is capable of 384 Kbps, but in practice, it sometimes does not even provide 128 Kbps. However, this state of affairs is relevant only for those areas where the density of subscribers is high - for cities and densely populated areas - as well as during traffic. In conditions of more or less free channels and a constant location, the speed can jump to record values. It's perfect for country use!
Cruel reality
Our measurements showed the following picture: in the evening along the Shchelkovskoye Highway from the Moscow Ring Road to the area of three stations, the average mobile Internet speed from the operator [prohibited by censorship] did not reach 50 Kbps for several days. However, one day in the Sokolniki area we received as much as 5 Mbit/s. On the Moscow-Zelenograd segment, the speed is also extremely unstable - it ranges from 40 Kbps to 4 Mbps, while in some places the mobile Internet drops completely. In mobile conditions, all this is quite suitable for reading news sites on the road, chatting on VKontakte, chatting, sending photos on Instagram, and in some places making a “video call” - in general, carrying out one or another act of communication.
By the way, according to the results of independent measurements, on average, the Internet speed in the capital is 2.5 - 3 Mbit/s, which is already pretty good.
Internet from Sky Link
The Sky Link operator uses CDMA technology for data transmission, the specifics of which make it possible to solve the problem of the relationship between the number of users and channel load in a different way.
Coverage area
Sky Link, like the GSM network, boasts a huge coverage area. Not only Moscow, not only the Moscow region - radio waves of the CDMA standard pass almost throughout Russia. However, as with GSM, the quality and availability of the signal depends on a number of conditions. “Due to the peculiarities of radio signal propagation in urban areas within the specified zones (including in areas of reliable radio signal reception), depending on the terrain and the specific location of the subscriber (especially in buildings, basements and other structures), the quality of radio communications may deteriorate , be interrupted or interfered with, and the data transmission rate may increase or decrease." However, the devil is not as scary as he is painted.
Stability
Following Megafon, MTS entered the battle for users, and thanks to the active development of the network, it secured second place in network coverage in Moscow and the Moscow region. You can view the current coverage area on the operator’s website:
Modern infocommunication technologies and electronics are developing at such a speed that it is difficult and unthinkable for the average person to imagine themselves not only without a smartphone or tablet, but also without access to the Internet. Thus, Internet-connected gadgets have surpassed desktop computers and laptops mainly due to the advent of 3G.
Turning to history, one can see that almost every ten years, starting from the 1970s, when the 1G standard was developed, more and more new types of communication appear. By 1990, 2G was adopted, and in the early 2000s, the 3G standard was introduced. It was only in 2010 that a network based on the IP protocol began to spread around the world under the name 4G. Each new communication standard differs from the previous one in frequency range, bandwidth and bitrate, as well as technical maintenance of the network itself.
4G is a new generation of data reception and transmission technology that can operate with a throughput of more than 100 Mbit/s for mobile and more than 1 Gbit/s for fixed network subscribers, respectively.
Back in 2012, such wireless technologies of this generation as WiMAX 2 (WMAN-Advanced, IEEE 802.16m) and LTE Advanced (LTE-A) were introduced
Technological features
Requirements for data exchange speeds of 100 Mbit/s for mobile and 1 Gbit/s for fixed 4G communication receivers were presented back in 2008 by the International Telecommunication Union. However, initially the LTE and WiMAX standards did not meet the above requirements, although they were considered the fourth generation. Only with the launch of LTE-Advanced did the network speed reach the required value.
As for the difference from the previous 3G standard, in the fourth the principle of data transmission is based on the IPv4 and IPv6 packet protocols. VoLTE technology is provided for voice transmission.
Radio planning and network maintenance specialists regularly monitor and implement innovations to increase the maximum speed and quality of information reception/transmission, since 4G must meet the following conditions:
Mandatory use of IP protocols.
Capacity for subscribers moving at speeds up to 33.3 m/s.
Dynamic partitioning to optimize network processes.
40 MHz bandwidth.
Excellent quality mobile systems.
As for the hardware, equipment production is carried out by such corporations as Siemens, Huawei, Nokia. Qualcomm produces microprocessors for modems that can operate in several standards at once.
Difference between 4G and 3G
The first thing that is immediately noticeable when using the new generation is the tenfold increase in traffic speed, that is, in 3G it ranges from 348 kbit/s for mobile and from 2 Mbit/s for landline subscribers.
It is worth noting that gadgets that have a built-in 4G module can also work in 3G. The methods of transmitting and receiving information are also significantly different. 3G is characterized by both voice and packet modes, while 4G is packet only.
Since the third generation appeared much earlier than the fourth, the coverage area is also many times larger.
Also, the trio has a code division of signals, which ensures a reliable and uninterrupted connection when switching from one base station to another.
Advantages and disadvantages
Of course, the most basic advantage over other sources of network access is mobility and portability, without any connection to a cable, cord or coverage area.
The other side of the coin is that 4G coverage is not yet quite perfect. Therefore, you can count on stable work only within large cities or metropolitan areas. But the main condition for connection is a built-in or external modem.
If we compare mobile communications and wi-fi, the latter has a clear advantage in speed. This also applies to energy consumption, since wifi modules consume battery energy several times less than 4G modems.
Another compelling argument when choosing a 4G modem is the relatively high price of such devices, as well as the cost of the Internet, which depends on the operator’s tariff.
Having analyzed the text described above, we can come to the conclusion that at the stage of development at which 4G is now, such a standard is best suited for fast access to the Internet, web surfing, viewing mail, news, video, audio and personal accounts, but not for full download of large files.
The promise of 5G
At the moment, the world's leading manufacturers and operators of telecommunications equipment and services are already developing the latest 5G standard. The announcement is expected by 2020. The concept involves network multitasking, multi-switching functionality, as well as constant online operation of gadgets and devices. The main emphasis is on high energy efficiency, which ensures very low energy consumption of equipment.
Video about what 4G LTE communication means, how does 4G differ from 3G?
Just a few years ago technology LTE(Long Term Evolution) was a curiosity, available only in a few, most advanced countries. Today, most of the world uses it, including Russia, and we are already starting to get used to the ability to safely watch online videos on the go. But progress does not stand still. Let's look beyond the horizon and imagine what mobile Internet will be like in the near future. What will replace LTE?
Our assistants
We were not alone in the search for truth. The project was prepared with the support of technical specialists of the company " VimpelCom"(Beeline), who helped us find the necessary information and provided interesting facts. Thanks guys. And now we dive into the future, starting with the recent past.
1. The birth of LTE
Technologies are developing at a rapid pace, and in completely different areas of human activity: in medicine, consumer electronics, energy and, of course, in mobile telecommunications. Today, watching videos on YouTube on your smartphone, being somewhere in the middle of the city, or even in the country, and using a mobile network for this, is quite normal and familiar. But just 10 years ago, few could have dreamed of such luxury even on wired home Internet. It’s easy to get an average air speed of 5–10 Mbit/s! But 10 years ago, having Internet access at a speed of 256–512 Kbps (20 times less) at home was a luxury available to only a few. I don’t even want to remember the mobile Internet of that time.
Russia became one of the first countries where, through the efforts of Yota, a commercial LTE network was launched. This happened in 2011, but at that time there were only 11 base stations in the vicinity of Moscow, and it was too early to talk about any kind of mass implementation of the technology. The number of smartphones with LTE support on the Russian market then tended to zero. But in 2014, a full-scale launch of fourth-generation mobile networks took place with the participation of the Big Three operators. Even in comparison with the very fast 3G and HSPA+, the new technology demonstrated miracles of speed, and, it would seem, nothing more is needed. Nevertheless, the development and systematic implementation of even more advanced mobile technologies is already underway, which we will discuss below.
2. Near future. LTE-Advanced
Somehow we are accustomed to perceive LTE as a 4G standard, that is, these are supposedly fourth-generation mobile networks, which is not entirely true. This is due to advertising. In fact, in terms of its speed characteristics, this standard does not reach the technical requirements that the consortium 3GPP And International Telecommunication Union(ITU, ITU) adopted for the new generation of cellular communications. But the impressive marketing pressure and improvements brought by HSPA+, LTE and the now forgotten WiMAX forced the ITU to give permission to label the mentioned technologies as 4G (yes, HSPA+ is also 4G). But still, it would be more correct to call LTE the 3.5G generation, but LTE-Advanced already fully satisfies the requirements of responsible organizations and is truly a 4G standard. But to avoid confusion, it is called True 4G(Real 4G) and it is this technology that will massively replace LTE in the very near future.
First, let's look at the speed characteristics of LTE-Advanced compared to LTE. The latter, in radio conditions close to ideal, allows you to reach peak speeds of 150 Mbit/s; in practice, in urban conditions it is almost always up to 50 Mbit/s, which is also cool. Unfortunately, peak speed for LTE is a very rare occurrence in our world, and the greater the number of subscribers on the network, the further the actual speeds will be from the peak. In turn, the data download speed in the LTE-Advanced network can reach 1 Gbit/s at its peak (during demonstration tests, a real speed of 450 Mbit/s was achieved), although in reality you should not count on more than 100 Mbit/s, yes There's no need for more for now.
More important is the fact that the technology in question makes it possible to use the cellular network more efficiently and quickly increase its throughput in a variety of ways, including the use of femtocells and picocells. That is, operators will be able to easily and fairly quickly improve the quality of their networks by using existing capacities and supplementing them with inexpensive base stations. All equipment is already available and thoroughly studied.
Technically, LTE-Advanced cannot be called something completely new, since, in fact, this initiative combines several technologies that have been available on the market for several years:
- Carrier Aggregation- carrier aggregation.
- Coordinated Multipoint allows the device to connect simultaneously to several base stations and increase transmission speed by downloading or uploading data into multiple streams.
- Enhanced MIMO- use of several receiving and several transmitting antennas. In this case, this is support for MIMO 8x8 in the downlink (from the base station to the mobile stations) and MIMO 4x4 in the uplink (from the mobile station to the base station).
- Relay Nodes- support for relay nodes. They can effectively close coverage gaps and improve radio conditions for users located at the cell edges.
Together, these technologies make it possible to increase the speed of mobile Internet, improve the stability of the connection and, in general, make working on the Internet much more comfortable, including conditions when you are moving at high speed (for example, in a car, bus or train). The last nuance is a very serious limitation for 3G networks, as it greatly reduces the quality of communication. In addition, LTE-Advanced provides minimal delays in packet transmission, up to 5 ms. That is, you can comfortably play online games via a mobile network.
As for voice transmission, as in the case of LTE, it is possible to work in VoIP mode or use 2G/3G networks in parallel for this. It is the latter option that has taken root in Russia, although work is underway to switch to the more advanced VoLTE (that is, VoIP).
The main reason for the rapid adoption of LTE-Advanced is the ability to use existing networks and equipment to deploy True 4G. Moreover, Yota was the first in the world to launch this technology on a commercial network, which happened back in 2012. 12 base stations were involved in the work, which, of course, could not provide users with the benefits of the technology. In February 2014 Megaphone launched the LTE-Advanced network within the Garden Ring of Moscow, combining bands in one band, which has a good effect on increasing the maximum possible speed, but has little impact on the user experience (these maximum speeds remain available only within a conventional 30 meters from the BS). And in August of the same year it promptly worked Beeline and launched an LTE network in Moscow, combining bands from 2 bands - Band 7 (2.6 GHz) and Band 20 (800 MHz) - with a maximum speed of up to 115 Mbit/s towards the subscriber (this is about 14 MB/s - like at home on a wire). Combining bands from high and low bands into one channel is the ideal manifestation of LTE-Advanced: it allows you to combine high speeds with good coverage. It is the possibility of combining and simultaneous use of several frequencies that underlies the technology under consideration. Now in practice this is possible for 2 or 3 bands; in the future, the operator will be able to combine all its available frequencies to organize a communication channel with one subscriber.
LTE-Advanced networks are being actively deployed today and their capabilities should last for a long time. In fact, the task of operators now is not to slow down, increase their equipment fleet, improve the quality of services provided and expand the coverage of their networks. With a sufficiently high density of base stations, LTE-Advanced may well be able to replace wired home Internet, and this is a matter of the near future.
Although this is the future already available in major Russian cities. Specifically, here's how Beeline commented on the implementation of LTE-Advanced and the development of mobile technologies in Russia in general:
Today, one of the LTE-A technologies - Carrier Aggregation (carrier aggregation) is available on the Beeline network throughout Moscow. And our clients who own smartphones with 4G+ support are already actively using it. However, LTE-A is not just about combining frequency bands. The prospects for the development of this area for our company are much larger! Our networks are already ready to launch almost all technologies related to LTE-A; all that remains is to wait for subscriber devices that support them to appear on the market.
It is worth noting that the development of this technology occurs in parallel with the further increase in power in 3G and 4G networks. In 2014, the number of LTE stations in Moscow alone increased 2.7 times! The 3G network not only continues to be built, but is also being modernized. For example, DC-HSPA+ is already 42 Mbit/s, and not 3 or 7 Mbit/s, as it was several years ago.
If speak about implementation of LTE in other regions of Russia, then the situation is somewhat more complicated than in Moscow, but companies are also working in this direction. Experts see the situation as follows:
As a rule, the spread of such technologies depends on two important factors: the availability of subscriber devices that support LTE-A Russian frequencies, and the free frequencies themselves. At the moment, the Russian gadget market cannot boast of a wide range of smartphones with LTE-A support; in other words, the number of such models can be counted on one hand. On the other hand, there is also the problem of availability of suitable frequencies. Carrier Aggregation in its ideal form is the combination of all operator frequencies. However, the frequencies can be used by the military and aviation. Therefore, the launch of LTE-A technology in other regions depends on measures to free up frequencies. Currently, the technology operates on the already free frequencies of the 800 band in Moscow.
By the way, the very name of the Long Term Evolution technology translates as “ Long term evolution", so the standard was initially developed years in advance, but man does not stand still, and sooner or later new technologies will come that will change the world. We'll talk about them below.
3. The next step, revolutionary
Should we expect some kind of revolutionary breakthrough in mobile data technologies in the near future? For example, abandoning the traditional architecture of telecom networks, the foundations of which were laid during the development of the first generation standards (NMT, GSM)? Perhaps such a leap will occur after 2020 with the advent of fifth-generation mobile networks.
So far, little is known about this, because today we are only witnessing the emergence of those technologies that will form the basis of the future mobile Internet. Even the official standard 5G still doesn't exist. However, there are already several directions in which future mobile networks will develop. Let's discuss them.
What will 5G give us? First of all, this is another leap in data exchange speed, at least by an order of magnitude. In addition, delays in processing requests will be reduced and network capacity will significantly increase (more connections and increased data transfer volume even within one base station).
Second important point- focusing on the subscriber, not on the base stations. Today, if a person sees a weak network signal, he tries to move closer to the base station to improve the quality of communication. And with the best possible signal and minimal load on the Network, the user will still not receive the maximum possible speed, but only some average option. It's all about the limitations of the technology, which does not imply individualization of subscribers. In 5G networks, the use of so-called smart antennas is expected, capable of changing the radiation pattern depending on the needs of subscribers in specific conditions. With a minimum number of subscribers, data will be sent to them via a narrowly directed channel, which will increase the data transfer speed.
Further development will also be MIMO technology. Now LTE networks mainly use 2x2 configurations, that is, two antennas for data transmission at the base station and two for reception at the subscriber device. In 5G networks, their number is planned to increase significantly to increase data exchange speed. Another way to do this is to increase the frequency channel width. Since operators are already “crowded” in the currently used frequency ranges (even 20 MHz of continuous spectrum is a luxury), it is necessary to move to higher ranges - up to millimeter waves(30 GHz and above). However, you need to remember that with an increase in the operating frequency, due to the characteristics of radio wave propagation, the communication range decreases, which can impose a number of restrictions (the size of the cell decreases). On the other hand, there is absolutely no need to make a continuous coating in all ranges.
Naturally, new mobile networks mean not only a banal increase in capacity and speeds, but also an efficient use of available resources. For example, the implementation of the concept device-to-device(device-to-device). The situation is familiar when people are at a short distance from each other, say 10–20 meters, and at the same time they have to communicate by phone or transfer data via a cellular network. The mentioned concept involves the interaction of devices directly, and only call tariffs will pass through the Network, which will greatly relieve the load on base stations.
Safety for human health and energy efficiency are also important elements of future networks, but these are already details.
What 5G do we already have today?? Enormous data transfer speed, which is so far achieved only in laboratory conditions, but this is where all previous standards began. So Samsung Electronics is actively developing its own 5G standard, within which it has achieved data transfer speeds in 7.5 Gbps(940 MB/sec) with a fixed connection and 1.2 Gbps(150 MB/s) in a car moving at speed 150 km/h.
In the fifth generation mobile network, the Korean company uses the frequency 28 GHz, and she has been developing this direction for several years. The first public demonstration took place in 2013, and then Samsung showed the result of wireless data transmission in the 5G network at the level of 1 Gbit/s - this was a record that it has now surpassed by 7.5 times.
Europe, in particular, is not lagging behind the Asians Ericsson has already developed a number of technologies that will be in demand in future mobile networks. It's about 5G-LTE Dual Connectivity And 5G Multipoint Connectivity. The first allows the device to communicate with LTE and 5G networks in one-time switching mode to implement a seamless transition between them. This is important for supporting different frequency spectra and efficient simultaneous operation of two standards. Given the potentially small size of 5G cells, one should not expect global coverage of such networks in their first few years of existence. This is where the ability to seamlessly operate two standards at the same time comes in handy.
Concerning 5G Multipoint Connectivity, then this is already one of the technologies only for the new standard. It allows the device to connect simultaneously to two base stations and increase the transfer speed by downloading data in multiple streams. The fact is that the ability to increase network capacity by adding different types of base stations in the case of 5G will be used even more actively than in LTE-Advanced and 5G Multipoint Connectivity may become a key technology for increasing data exchange speeds.
Unfortunately, Samsung and Ericsson each pull in their own direction and use different technologies for data transmission. For Europeans, these are base stations operating on the frequency 15 GHz. So far, Ericsson has been able to achieve peak speed in laboratory conditions 5 Gbps in a working 5G network.
But there is also a Chinese one Huawei with her own decision, but she has not yet expanded on this matter. In general, at the moment we again have several potential 5G standards, which in the future can only complicate life for consumers and manufacturers of end devices if they are implemented simultaneously. On the other hand, some new generation technologies can be tested on existing networks or will be introduced into them in the near future. Moreover, Russia is also taking an active part in the development of 5G:
"VimpelCom" at the level of the VimpelCom Ltd group of companies. actively participates in the formation of recommendations for 5G network standards within the framework of NGMN and cooperates with major network equipment suppliers in this direction. It is still premature to talk about the construction of 5G networks, as there are still a lot of open questions regarding standardization. But we can already safely talk about introducing into existing networks elements and mechanisms that will be used in 5G networks. In particular, aggregation of carriers from different bands and some other functions that will form the basis of 5G networks are already a reality for VimpelCom.
Commentary from Beeline specialists
But I would like some kind of globalization, and the head of Tesla and the eccentric billionaire Sir are working in this direction Richard Branson. They are competitors to each other, and Musk’s development looks more promising within the framework of the topic under consideration.
4. Global Internet
Branson and his project OneWeb involves launching 700 satellites into low orbit (1200 km) to provide Internet to hard-to-reach places on the planet and third world countries where it is problematic to develop traditional mobile and fiber-optic networks. In general, we are talking about global access to the Network, which can be used in the dense jungle of the Amazon, and at an altitude of thousands of meters above sea level in the mountains, and on board any aircraft. If the project starts successfully, then the number of satellites can be increased to 2,400. True, Branson does not mention the technologies that will be used for data exchange, but he does not intend to drag his feet with the project. So these could be existing LTE-Advanced developments. Currently, the project budget is set at $2 billion.
In its turn Elon Musk is in no hurry and states that his similar venture will start no earlier than 2020, and he intends to invest no less than $10 billion. The idea is the same - to envelop the planet with a network of satellites in low orbit, but the head of Tesla and SpaseX immediately talks about the global Internet, and not about covering hard-to-reach places with the Network. In addition, the main goal of the project is to provide communications to the future Martian city and earn money for its development. Yes, Musk does not waste his time on trifles. If we’re going to make an electric car, then it’s the best in the world. If you create spaceships, then they will be reusable and for traveling to Mars.
So, taking into account all of the above, we should count on the use of the latest telecommunications technologies in Musk’s satellites, and they may well become the basis for the future global Internet system of the planet.
Today, when the world is striving for globalization, and the Internet is virtualizing many processes that until recently were only available in cities with a population of over a million, this issue [of globalization] is especially relevant. Technology can not only grow business and facilitate communication. Their role is much larger. And one of the components is social.