4G Networks

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Are there any active 4G networks that are available for consumers? Or are they still only for testing purposes?

 

[tdawg]

4g/WiMax exists through Sprint and Clearwire (Clear) for internet, but there aren't any phones that operate on 4g/WiMax yet.

 

[BigSmooth]

Sprint via Clearwire has a 4G network available in a number of cities. Link: http://www.nextel.com/en/stores/popups/4G_coverage_popup.shtml

They don't have a handset that supports it yet, though. Only desktop/laptop modems and the Overdrive. Handsets are rumored to be coming out this year, although the time frame being thrown around varies quite a bit. Some say as soon as 1H 2010, others say late 2010 at the earliest.

 

[Slick5150]

Yeah, the HTC Supersonic will likely wind up being the first 4G phone sold, but it's unknown when it'll actually come out (likely not before late summer/early fall)

But as others have said, the network is up and running in areas and you can access it via Sprint's USB modem

 

[Red Squirrel]

4G? Our city did not get 3G yet other then small providers with crappy coverage. Hold your horses!

 

[Pliablemoose]

4G? Our city did not get 3G yet other then small providers with crappy coverage. Hold your horses!

I heard that prairie dog towns weren't going to get any cell towers, the installers were too afraid of getting plague from the prairie dog fleas.

 

[boomhower]

As mentioned Sprint has WiMax but no phones, just the overdrive. Clearwire has said there will be no 4G phones in 2010. The Supersonic has started to be rumored but no release date estimates that are more than a sheer guess are available. If a 4G handset comes out this year I wouldn't expect it until very late in the year.

 

[Fox5]

The 4g speeds sprint/clearwire are offering don't even seem that fast. They're in line with the 3g speeds advertised by att, and below the 3g speeds advertised by tmobile (especially since tmobile is supposed to be up to 20mb/s within a year).

 

[Slick5150]

The 4g speeds sprint/clearwire are offering don't even seem that fast. They're in line with the 3g speeds advertised by att, and below the 3g speeds advertised by tmobile (especially since tmobile is supposed to be up to 20mb/s within a year).

No, real world tests have definitely shown them to be faster. They're not where they eventually will be yet, but doing any file downloading is going to be quite a bit faster over Clearwire's network than any 3G network currently operating.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Here's some blurry cam pics of what's reportedly the Supersonic due out on Sprint's network

http://androidmobileos.com/?p=338

 

[Fox5]

No, real world tests have definitely shown them to be faster. They're not where they eventually will be yet, but doing any file downloading is going to be quite a bit faster over Clearwire's network than any 3G network currently operating.

With tmobiles recent upgrade to 7.2Mbps, people are reporting comparable speeds to clear's. Tmobile is supposed to go up to 21Mbps within a year, and 28Mbps within 2.

No other carriers (afaik) are pushing 3g that far, and there's no 3g devices that can operate that fast anyway.

 

[tdawg]

Clear is definitely faster for me than 3g is. Of course, my only comparison is 4g/clear on my home network vs. 3g download speeds on my iphone. Iphone 3g was comparable to 1Mb dsl, I'm seeing a 6-fold increase in download speeds over clearwire.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

3G has a long way to go though. The reason we can't get real world download speeds that fast is because of the backbone. ATT needs to upgrade its backbone. You can put up 4G first, and with a crappy backbone, you'll get terrible speeds still.

Sprint and Verizon need to jump to 4G now because at least Verizon has said that it own't upgrade to EVDO Rev B. Meaning it's only going to compare to HSDPA 3.6mbps... ATT can push to 7.2 as it is doing now, and even 14.4 later. 21mbps some day? Europe is moving to 42 and 84mbps aren't they? HSPA has a long way to go theoretically, and AT&T can keep pushing these upgrades and take their time on 4G. The rest of the world is waiting on 4G anyway, and I don't think anyone's slated for LTE by 2010 like Verizon.

So while on paper 4G looks very nice, being the first isn't all that great because unless you have everyone following your footsteps, your devices will still be limited (and we will be limited because of the NAM 4G frequencies). I don't think it's a terrible thing for AT&T to wait on deploying 4G. I just ask that:

A) Just don't be the last one deploying 4G.
B) 3G upgrades are fine as long as you can reach advertised speeds.

Also I don't expect any huge trends in devices all jumping to 4G until perhaps 2011, which gives us time.

 

[Fox5]

How's latency on 4g anyway? 3g devices tend to have some pretty horrible latency that makes them unsuitable as primary internet devices, even if bandwidth is acceptable.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

How's latency on 4g anyway? 3g devices tend to have some pretty horrible latency that makes them unsuitable as primary internet devices, even if bandwidth is acceptable.

should be a lot better. i don't have specific numbers but this could be interesting... it could make tethering to play CoD:MW2 possible... heh

 

[Slick5150]

I thought I saw someone saying his latency was generally around 70ms , which isn't as good as most home internet connections, but certainly usuable for most purposes.