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4G Wireless Technology – An
Overview
Even though 3G services
are yet to take the world by storm, attention is already being turned
to the next major generation of mobile communications – the Fourth
Generation (4G), which is expected to become commercially available in
the year 2010 or so. For one thing, there is still no unified
blueprint governing what the next generation of wireless technology
will look like.4G could be built on
3G-telephony spectrum, but higher capacity demand would create a need
for even more spectrum. Operators—already investing huge amounts in
buying 3G licenses—would have to make additional investments in
equipment and services. 3G networks are being built on top of overlays
to existing 2G networks and IP technologies are only now being
incorporated into those networks. By the time 4G is deployed, these
networks will likely be entirely based on end to end IP technology.
4G is expected to
be a truly unified single standard unlike UMTS or cdma2000. 3G is a
substantial leap forward in mobile bandwidth and capacity. 4G will be
another giant leap forward, requiring more new spectrum, but providing
unprecedented broadband communications. Rollout of 3G and 4G
technologies will be stunted unless wireless spectral efficiency
improves. Consumer and enterprise adoption will depend on new wireless
technologies providing significant new capabilities inexpensively and
seamlessly.
4G devices are expected
to be more visual and intuitive rather than today’s text and menu
based systems. The phone will be able to interact with the environment
around it and act accordingly – paying for goods when you approach a
payment kiosk for example.
Advantages & Applications
The advantages/
applications expected from 4G deployment are as follows:
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Very high data rates:
Speeds of up to 50 times that will be available on 3G.
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Enhanced GPS Services: a 4G version of GPS technology
would be able to let people be virtually present in a variety of
places.
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Media-Rich Apps: media-rich content would also flow seamlessly between devices
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Navigational Aids:
visualized virtual navigation that allows a remote database
containing graphical representation of streets, buildings and
physical characteristics of a large metro to be accessed by a moving
vehicle
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