Sunday, February 27, 2011

Wading Through the Different 4G Internet Standards

Although different internet standards can be complicated from the point of view of implementing them, they actually don't have to be that hard for consumers to understand. Ultimately, consumers just need to know how each standard can benefit them. Isn't that the only thing that really matters anyway? In order to figure out which 4G connection you should sign up for, you need to understand the different standards that exist. Once you do, your choice will become clear.

The whole standards debate can be null and void depending on where you live though. Since the next generation of cellular internet connectivity is still being rolled out across the nation, there are some areas that don't have access to any at all. People that live in those areas are just going to have to sit back and wait. There's also the possibility that only one will be available while the rest will not. In that case, you won't have much of a choice. Not everyone is going to have access to more than one standard, but those that do should pay special attention to what follows.

Before understanding 4G, you have to take a quick look at 3G. It too can be used as an internet connection but it was never designed to compete directly with wired broadband solutions. Really, it was only meant as a high-speed option for cell phones. Nevertheless, it provided the motivation for the next generation of technology. You might think that the newer technology would make 3G irrelevant, but the two can actually work together to give you a positively humungous coverage area. The new standards are backwards compatible with 3G for the most part, which only serves to help.

With that in mind, one of your 4G internet options could very well be HSPA+. As it turns out, HSPA+ is actually based on older 3G technology, which means that it's theoretically possible to get it up and running fast. Unfortunately, that also means that it might reach its limits faster than the others since it's based on older technology. For the time being though, it's a fast and affordable solution.

Another option is known as Wimax. Unlike HSPA+, it has a completely new and updated infrastructure, which will likely only serve to benefit it in the future. This standard has quietly been building a reputation for itself over the years and has been steadily expanding during that time. It now enjoys an impressive coverage area and people really can't go wrong with this option.

The third standard you can pick is known as LTE or Long Term Evolution. Like the previous option, it also uses a new and updated infrastructure and is fast. The only problem with this standard is that it's relatively new and unproven. Would you want to go with an inexperienced option the first time you try a next generation cellular internet connection? Probably not.

Now that you've seen the various options that exist out there, it's not hard to see which one is recommended. You don't want to choose a technology based on older infrastructure and you also don't want to choose a standard that is unproven. Therefore, your choice should be Wimax.


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