The future of communication has arrived As the buzz about 4G LTE gets louder, everyone from smartphone users to schools brace to lap up the new technology
ne of the most watched for technologies at present is the 4G LTE or the fourth generation long-term evolution. The wireless communications standard that everyone is talking about is designed to provide much faster speeds than 3G networks for mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, netbooks, notebooks and wireless hotspots. Being the fastest network available means download speeds four to five times faster than 3G networks, which rivals some home broadband connections. The real hook, though, is the fact that consumers don’t have to be at home to appreciate these speeds. They can access the Internet and download data wherever there is coverage with any 4G-enabled device, including smartphones, tablets and mobile hotspots. In non-technical terms, data
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means anything other than SMS (simple text messages) and phone calls. Everything else including downloading apps, checking emails, watching a YouTube video or downloading a picture requires the use of data. The speed, then, is exactly why so many people are excited about 4G LTE. Cellular data is a part of many peoples’ lives and the ability to utilise and experience the internet in a quicker, richer way opens new possibilities for both business and personal lives. Taking advantage of the technology, a fresh initiative aimed at creating a new educational environment in schools has been conceived. This involves distributing tablet PCs to students and providing all government schools with 4G high-speed networks. These measures are expected to improve the quality of education in line with the global scientific renaissance. Following the successful launch of Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Smart Learning by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the programme recently held a workshop to share its vision with teachers. The workshop was organised to give them an in-depth understanding of the programme’s goals and to explain how they can implement this unique experience in the region. Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education, highlighted the importance of the initiative in the ministry’s goal to upgrade educational standards in the UAE. “The process of education demands teamwork and investing in the best human resources and ex-
pertise as well as support from all national bodies so as to keep up with the overall progress achieved in the UAE under the leadership of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses, Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of their respective emirates,” Qattami said in his speech. Pertinently, accessing internet on the go has been made easier
with telecom providers offering affordable packages, tailored to suit people’s browsing needs. “Accessing the internet is as much a right as it is a pleasure in today’s world, and we are pleased to announce our newest data bundles that offer online time to suit everyone’s budget. Whether you are an occasional user who wants to read an email on your mobile, or if you have to be plugged in 24/7 to stay up to date with the latest news and connected to your social networks, we have a value-added bundle to suit your needs,” said Farid Farai-
dooni, chief commercial officer, du. Already many newer Androidbased smartphones are 4G LTE compatible. Expect both the upcoming iPhone 5 and iPad 4 to have built-in 4G LTE capabilities. Given the optimism and appetite of the market for 4G LTE, the coverage area is likely to expand rapidly as new devices hit shelves. Knowing what 4G LTE means and the various benefits it encompasses is going to the key for consumers when they make their next device purchase.
LTE: A step towards the future
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New mobile technology will enhance applications such as interactive TV, mobile video blogging, advanced games and professional services, further enhancing user experience Anders Lindblad
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MOBILE broadband has quickly become a necessity, as the internet generation grows accustomed to having broadband access wherever they go and not just at home or in the office. Of the estimated 3.4 billion people who will have broadband by 2014, about 80 per cent will be mobile broadband subscribers and the majority will be served by High Speed Packed Access (HSPA) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks. People can already browse the internet or send emails using HSPA-enabled notebooks by replacing their fixed DSL modems with HSPA modems or USB dongles and send and receive video or music using 3G phones. With LTE, user experience will be even better. It will enhance more demanding applications such as interactive TV, mobile video blogging, advanced games and professional services, which have become a necessity for today’s internet generation. Consumers understand and appreciate the benefits of mobile broadband. People already use mobile phones and connect their notebooks to wireless LANs. The step towards full mobile broadband is intuitive and simple, espe-
broadband through standardisation bodies. Some of the world’s leading operators, vendors and research institutes have joined forces in the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) programme, which works alongside existing standardisation bodies and has established clear performance targets, fundamental recommendations and deployment scenarios for a future wide-area mobile broadband network. Although not defined by NGMN, LTE meets these requirements that include efficient reuse of existing assets, no impact on HSPA road maps and cost efficiency. One of the key success factors for any technology is economy of scale. The volume advantage is beneficial for both handsets and infrastructure equipment, as it Anders Lindblad drives down the manufacturing costs and enables operators to provide cost-efficient services to their cially with LTE that offers ubiqui- customers. This is also one of the tous coverage and roaming with main reasons new operators will benefit from LTE. existing 2G and 3G networks. Deployment of LTE will vary A number of broadband applications are significantly enhanced from country to country, according with mobility, community sites, to regulatory requirements. The search engines, presence applica- first devices will be multimodetions and content-sharing sites based, meaning that wide-area such as YouTube. With mobility, coverage, mobility and service these applications become signifi- continuity can be provided from cantly more valuable to users. Us- day one, and existing mobile neter-generated content is particu- works can be used as fall-back in larly interesting, because it areas where LTE is not yet dechanges traffic patterns, making ployed. It is important that the dethe ability to uplink more impor- ployment of LTE infrastructure is tant than ever. The high peak rates as simple and cost efficient as posand short latency of LTE also en- sible. For example, it should be ables real-time applications such possible to upgrade existing radio as gaming and video-conferenc- base stations to LTE using plug-in ing, making LTE an inevitable units, so they become both dual mode and dual band. transition for most operators. LTE offers several important As for the operators, they are now doing business in an increas- benefits for users and operators ingly competitive environment, including enhanced performance competing not only with other op- and capacity, simplicity and a wide erators, but also with new players range of compatible terminals, and business models. However, which will incorporate embedded new business models also mean LTE modules. Operators can intronew opportunities and mobile op- duce LTE flexibly to match their erators have the advantage of be- existing network, spectrum and ing able to offer the competitive business objectives for mobile delivery of mobile broadband ser- broadband. Therefore, with invices using existing investments in creasing competition and the endusers’ demands for faster and 2G and 3G networks. This is why operators are so ac- more efficient services, LTE has tive in formulating strategies and emerged as the technology of the driving requirements for mobile future.