What is 4G LTE and why is it important?

 

What is 4G LTE and why is it important?

If you’re not sure what 4G LTE means, you’re not alone. Below is a quick primer on what it is and how it applies in your daily life.

Millions of Verizon customers enjoy the consistent speed and incredible coverage of our 4G LTE network every day. But most people don’t know how the technology that powers that network, 4G LTE, differs from other wireless networks, or what the term “4G LTE” means.

The technology behind 4G can be complex, but we can help you understand the basics. So let’s see what 4G LTE is and why it matters to you.

What is 4G LTE?

Simply put, 4G LTE is the term used to describe the type of wireless technology that powers Verizon’s nationwide network, the largest and most reliable wireless network in the United States. Whenever you’re using wireless data on your Verizon device — whether you’re downloading, streaming, surfing the Web, or checking email — and you see the “LTE” light at the top of your screen, you’re using 4G LTE.

And what is “4G LTE“? 4G LTE is short for “Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution“. So it actually combines two words. First, “4G” represents the fourth generation of mobile technology, the next big advance after 3G. And “long-term evolution,” or “LTE,” is the industry term used to describe a specific type of 4G that delivers a faster mobile Internet experience.

So with a network like Verizon, you’re getting the best of both worlds when using wireless data – 4G and LTE.

The speed of 4G LTE has changed how we connect with the world.

You may know that 4G LTE is “fast”. But what does this mean when using your phone? This means downloads 10 times faster than 3G. This means web pages that load in seconds. This means smooth video and music streaming. In short, 4G LTE offers the ability to use and experience the Internet in a faster and richer way.

By enabling video viewing and data sharing at previously unrealized speeds, LTE has transformed our smartphones into powerful connected devices that we can carry anywhere. And it opened up new possibilities for our personal and professional lives.

Whether you’re skimming through reviews to find a great new restaurant, finding your way around using GPS, or streaming videos on YouTube while you wait for your food to arrive, 4G LTE lets you do it seamlessly.

Download speed on 4G LTE

<1 s

Personal emails

1 s

A webpage

4 s

Complete e-book

7 s

MP3 file

A brief history of 4G LTE

Yes, there were three generations of wireless networking technology before 4G. The first generation of mobile technology known as 1G was introduced in 1980. An analog technology, which has given us the ability to make and receive calls on mobile phones. The advent of 2G digital technology in the early 1990s introduced text messaging. The move to 3G in 2004 provided fast enough network speeds for the first smartphones. Ultimately, 4G, with its incredibly fast data transfer rates, led to many of the connected devices and services we rely on and enjoy today.

3G 4G LTE

Download speed is slow – over 30 seconds for large applications – large files take just a few seconds.

Web browsing

Slow and smooth, fast and seamless; Similar to home broadband experience

Video and music streaming poor quality, often buffering HD quality, live video

Verizon launched its 4G LTE network on December 5, 2010. It is the world’s first large-scale 4G LTE network, covering 38 major metropolitan areas and one-third of all Americans.

From there, Verizon worked hard to expand the new network to every corner of the United States. As of October 2012, Verizon 4G LTE Wireless was available in over 400 US markets. And by 2013, LTE reached 97 percent of the US population.

In 2016, Verizon became the first US provider to deploy LTE Advanced in cities across the country. LTE uses advanced carrier aggregation, speeding mobile data through the network faster than ever before, providing customers with 50 percent faster peak speeds.

Today, more than 98 percent of the US population has access to 4G LTE, and 90 percent of Verizon Wireless data traffic is carried over the network.

What does 5G mean to 4G LTE?

As Verizon continues to make improvements to its 4G LTE network, we are busy leading the industry in 5G development.

While 4G was a game-changer in the way we use wireless, 5G is completely revolutionary. 5G’s low latency and massive bandwidth will allow for the explosion of autonomous cars, smart communities, augmented reality (AR), and the Internet of Things (IoT). Amazing speed of 4G LTE

But that doesn’t mean 4G is going away. In fact, Verizon expects its 4G LTE network to be its mainstay for some time. 5G will be rolled out from city to city and will go live alongside 4G LTE in the future.