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4g: Ofcom tell it like it is... sort of.

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  • 12-11-2012 2:09pm
    #1
    clohamon
    Registered Users Posts: 1,789 ✭✭✭


    http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/4g/
    What to expect from 4G?
    4G services should make it much quicker to surf the web on your mobile, tablets and laptops – speeds will be nearer to what you currently experience with home broadband.
    Because of this, 4G is ideally suited for services which demand more capacity like video streaming, mapping and social networking sites.
    For the typical user, download speeds of initial 4G networks could be around 5-7 times those for existing 3G networks.
    This means a music album taking 20 minutes to download on a 3G phone and just over 3 minutes on 4G. This is based on existing 3G speeds being 1Mbit/s on average and 4G speed being 6Mbit/s (average of 5 and 7 times faster).
    What will 4G coverage be like?
    Ofcom has designed the 4G auction in a way that will see mobile broadband rolled out to at least 98% of people in villages, towns and cities across the UK. This is for indoor coverage; however, given that it is easier to provide coverage outdoors, a network meeting this obligation is likely to cover more than 99% of the UK by population when outdoors.
    Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: ‘As a direct result of the measures Ofcom is introducing, consumers will be able to surf the web stream high-quality videos and download big files on their mobile device from almost every home in the UK.’

    Contrasts with our government's expectations for 4g. Which is to deliver a minimum of 30Mb/s to the most remote users under the National Broadband Plan.


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    #2
    watty
    Registered Users Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    For the typical user, download speeds of initial 4G networks could be around 5-7 times those for existing 3G networks.

    Only if it's limited to well heeled "road warriors" due to more realistic prices (i.e. not subsidised by voice) and not used as a home/office Broadband alternative. If it is then on 5MHz you get only slightly better than 3G and on 20MHz channels about 4 to 5 times better.

    The 5-7 times must really apply to 20MHz channels.
    This is based on existing 3G speeds being 1Mbit/s on average and 4G speed being 6Mbit/s (average of 5 and 7 times faster).

    Average is an Average. The deviation from mean is huge on Mobile vs Cable Broadband. Or even vs DSL. No contention control other than refusing connections and low cap.


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