People have started talking about 4G even before we have successfully dealt with 3G altogether. There are so many areas of the world where 3G isn’t available or where 3G smartphones are much more expensive than you’d imagine. Nonetheless for those used to 3G like they’re used to breathing air, 4G connectivity seems a normal, logical step. Alltel is thinking about integrating LTE for their future 4G network. This is a three to five years move and for now we can only but talk about such an adventure.

Other carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless are thinking ahead but are likely to embrace 4G technologies once the newly acquired 700MHz spectrum becomes available. Alltel, a CDMA carrier, is going to rely on LTE (Long Term Evolution) and therefore on the evolution of GSM instead of UMB which will be the upgrade of CDMA . Here’s what LTE is said to offer when its time comes:
• Download up to 100 Mbps with 20 MHz bandwidth
• Upload up to 50 Mbps with 20 MHz bandwidth
• Scalable bandwidth up to 20 MHz
• Spectral efficiency of two to four times that of HSPA

What are your thoughts on 4G?

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