On the day that Apple announced the release of the (drum roll) new iPad, I was attending a two day LTE Fundamentals course. I thought that it would be fun to post a techie blog with my introduction to LTE. It’s time you know what the fuss is all about.
Now, what is LTE? LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. How unexciting it sounds. The think tanks at 3GPP are not very big in creative or fun acronyms. I learned that the term LTE is not quite synonymous with 4G. I would call it “semi-4G” or more aptly “3G++”. In my opinion, the phrase “4G LTE” is less than correct. Marketing-wise however, it’s perfect.
Simply put, the difference between 2G, 3G and 4G technologies is data speed. That is all, pretty much. Plus there are improvements in latency or delay as you go up the “G” ladder. A chart above shows the data rate capabilities of the various G’s in the mobile network.
As you can see, LTE is not quite 4G yet. 4G is meant to achieve speeds of 1 Gbps. Advanced-LTE or the real 4G is still 2 to 3 years away.
Currently, your mobile service provider is likely to be fast tracking the build of its LTE network. Unlike the shift from 2G to 3G where several network elements (big big switching boxes) were re-used or shared, LTE requires a totally new core and radio network.
One more thing to note, the current LTE infrastructure is not capable of supporting voice calls just yet. So if you make a phone call on your LTE-capable device, you will drop down to 2G or 3G network. Only data can be carried by the current LTE deployment. Be patient with the delay in the hand down to 2G/3G.
Now let’s talk about the new iPad. Assuming that the new iPad can handle LTE’s data rate specification of 100 Mbps (as shown in the picture above), the question is, can your service provider deliver 100 Mbps? Has your service provider completed its LTE deployment? If so, how extensive is its coverage? Remember that the operators need to install thousands of new eNode-B’s or cell sites. Existing 3G cell sites are not LTE compatible. Rolling out a new core network and installing thousands of e-NodeBs will take months, if not years. Having said that, your mobile provider could very well have LTE in major cities. Be sure to check.
In the old days when mobile phones were manufactured by the same companies that make the network equipment (Siemens, Nokia, Motorola, etc.), the network infrastructure kept pace with mobile devices. The right hand always checked what the left hand was doing. But not anymore. Apple changed the “mobile” landscape. Apple now drives demand. Don’t be surprised if your mobile service provider can’t keep up. Manufacturing iDevices is much quicker than building networks.
Therefore, your reason for buying the new iPad must not be driven by its LTE support. You could be disappointed. In Australia, the disappointment is even greater. Market leader Telstra built its LTE network in the 1800 MHz spectrum band. The new iPad apparently only works on 2100 MHz. Bugger that. Let’s hope that Apple decides to release a regional version that will work on 1800 MHz. You will, however, enjoy HSPA+ allowing speeds of up to 42 Mbps.
The new iPad’s cellular specification from Apple’s Australian website:
Wi-Fi + 4G model: LTE (700, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
ZDNET writes “Why the new iPad won’t be 4G in Australia”:
But Telstra was impatient and decided to launch its LTE network in the old 2G spectrum band of 1800MHz last year. Optus is planning to follow suit next month.
There. I am sure you will find other reasons for wanting the new iPad. After all, it is the “new black”.
Postcript. Here’s something to add to your stock knowledge:
3GPP – the organisation responsible for setting the standards and specifications of mobile broadband networks.
Node-B – a 3G cell site
eNode-B – an LTE cell site
HSPA – High Speed Packet Access. It’s 3G in steriods.