Archive for the ‘4G Mobile’ category

4G mobile phone network comes to Scandinavia

January 15th, 2010

Swedish and Norwegian mobile users could be among the first to use a fourth-generation (4G) mobile network.

Mobile phone firm TeliaSonera has completed work on two 4G networks in Oslo and Stockholm.

4G dongle, Ericsson

The company said that the first customers will be able to start using the networks in early 2010.

Despite the launch of the network, no handsets can yet use 4G. Initially customers will connect via a dongle and a laptop.

Fourth-generation, 4G, networks are based around the Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology and downlink data speeds can hit 100 megabits per second – about ten times quicker than the fastest 3G networks.

The technology has been designed to overlay existing 3G networks and most operators have committed to upgrading to the faster system.

TeliaSonera said it was recruiting customers to pilot the network during the first quarter of 2010.

It has released no information about the cost of connecting to the high-speed network. The dongles for connecting to the LTE network are made by Samsung.

Phone equipment maker Ericsson has put together the network in Stockholm, Sweden and Chinese firm Huawei is behind the one in Oslo, Norway. Both networks cover the central regions of both cities.

TeliaSonera said it expected the boost in speed to drive many novel applications including gaming on the move and much greater viewing of video on laptops.

Handsets that can use LTE are expected in mid-late 2010.

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4G Mobile Service Debuts: What You Need to Know

January 15th, 2010

A Swedish telecom firm has become the first carrier to offer 4G wireless service, albeit on a very limited basis. TeliaSonera announced Monday that its 4G/LTE network for data services would be available initially in Stockholm, Sweden and Oslo, Norway, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. The carrier plans to expand 4G coverage to 25 cities in Sweden and four in Norway by the end of 2010.

On paper, TeliaSonera’s 4G mobile broadband sounds blisteringly fast, with speeds of up to 100 Mbits/second–up to ten times faster than the provider’s Turbo 3G service, the company says. Users of data-intensive apps such as video conferencing, online gaming, and Web TV broadcasting would benefit from 4G speeds, which initially is for data services only. The company’s FAQ provides additional pricing and service details.

As is often the case with cutting-edge tech, early adopters will face some major challenges when upgrading to 4G. TeliaSonera customers, for instance, will need a special modem manufactured by Samsung to access the 4G network. And since the Samsung modem isn’t compatible with 3G networks, users will need a separate 3G modem for when they leave the 4G coverage area. The good news is that a 3G-4G combo modem should be ready by Q2 2010.

On this side of the pond, the rollout of 4G will likely be a slow and steady process.

Wireless service provider Clearwire is currently building the first national 4G network in the U.S. Using WiMax technology, Clearwire offers broadband speeds of 4Mbps to 6Mbps–relatively poky compared to TeliaSonera’s 100Mbps offering. As of September 2009, Clearwire reported 173,000 WiMax subscribers.

Sprint, which owns 51 percent of Clearwire, has announced plans to sell a 4G smartphone in 2010. And

Comcast, using the Clearwire network, is offering WiMax 4G service in Portland, Oregon. The Comcast High-Speed 2go service maxes out at 4Mbps.

Verizon, meanwhile, has been testing its 4G LTE network in a few U.S. markets, including Boston and Seattle. The carrier, as well as archrival AT&T, is expected to begin offering 4G service in limited areas next year. However, it’s unlikely either provider will offer widespread 4G coverage until 2011.

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