Introduction
In recent years, there has been a phenomenal growth in wireless communications technology which is now playing a promising role to meet the ubiquitous user demands. The developments of sophisticated wireless technologies have shaped the lifestyle of common people to a distinctive level. The 21st century has transformed into a turbulent business environment. There has always been a lot of competition among wireless telecommunication companies to cope with ever increasing user-demands in providing them enhanced capacity and data-rate services. Today a significant number of the telecom services providing carriers like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile and so on attempt to influence buyers that their systems are superior to alternate organizations. 3G advances introduced the period of cutting-edge cell mobiles and remained the dynamic constituent of substantial progresses in wireless innovations. As advanced mobile phones and wireless innovations enhance, the technology savvy customers are requesting more from wireless organizations. The deployment of wireless networks beyond 3G has paved the way for new era of distinguished wireless generations.
The following section describes the evaluation of 3G and 4G mobile networks in relation to four distinct areas:
Services and Applications
Smart applications may be the essential motive which focuses consumers to use gadgets like smart phones etc. They get snared on the comfort which certain applications bring to their lives. 3G stands among the pioneer network in the provision of these proficiencies for consumers (Segan, 2013). CDMA-2000, UMTS, EDGE etc., are employed in 3G mobile networks whereas WiMax and LTE-Advance are being implemented in 4G mobile networks. CDMA phones are compatible with CDMA-2000, which are currently being employed by network providing companies like Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T etc. UMTS standard is widely used in GSM networks likewise T-Mobile and AT&T in America. EDGE technology was introduced for the first time to allow internet data to be sent or received over the iPhone 1st generation (Kate et al., n.d.). This enables the consumers to get introduced with facilities such as family video calling, streaming movies, and even office level video conferences (Viswanahan, 2012). 4G surpassed 3G in providing consumers the capability to access information at rates even bigger than 3G. Customers are accessing multiple content types including audio, video and gaming etc (Viswanahan, 2012). In fact, 4G is another cycle of 3G developments; however bearers decided to call it 4G as a publicizing point of interest to get purchasers to switch organizations (Segan, 2013).
Network Architecture
The basic differences in the two generations are based on the underlying network architectures being used. 3G mobile networks are based on WAN using a circuit-switched technique. They perform communication through larger satellites networks which then transmit signals to 3G-BTS towers (Kate, n.d.).When a user makes a call, a radio signal is radiated which then gets communicated to the BTS tower. That call is then communicated to the principal switching capacity via WAN (Segan, 2013). This capacity is then responsible for connecting requests to desired users. Whereas in 4G, a combination of LAN and wide-area networks are employed based on IP system. Therefore, when a user makes a call, the information is communicated to the exchanging capacity via a MV signal. This is more unswerving due to less interruption. The exchanging capacity is then responsible for making requests (Kate, n.d.).
Data Throughput
The data throughput rate for 3G is up to 3.1Mbps (theoretical), while on average the speed range is between 0.5 to 1.5 Mbps (Kate. n.d.). 4G networks can theoretically achieve speeds of upto 300Mbps but in practice the speed varies from 2 to 12 Mbps (Kate, n.d.).
User Perceptions
Consumers enjoying 3G features are glad with the provision of efficient competencies. This is principally because all that is accessible to them or they may favor a gadget which has enhanced life of battery, that a 3G gadget can give (Segan, 2013). 3G is promptly accessible to customers across the country and all key carriers assist it. At first 4G systems were tormented by blackouts and absence of scope. Anyway, this did not influence purchasers from right on time selection of the new innovation in light of the fact that if it benefitted with regards to data throughput. As the remote carriers have executed their adaptations of 4G, buyers discover that not all 4G carriers were providing the same level of service. In the current scenario Verizon has the best scope and execution; most of the consumers overall experience is based on the typical user who only wants to stream music or watch the occasional TV show and what matters most to such consumers are cost effective rates rather than minor variations in speed (when comparing one 4G service to another). In next years, we can expect that 4G services will keep on improving as the cutting-edge technology evolution from well-established 3G gadgets to practical 4G ones (Kate, n.d.). Table 1 represents the overall comparison among 2G-4G technologies, which further clarifies the comparison between 3G and 4G (Akhtar, 2009).
Over time and due to differences in underlying systems various improvements and variations of 4G networks have come into existence. The three main versions are 4G LTE-advanced, 4G WiMax, and 4G WiBro (GoingWimax.com, 2009). The next section will compare and contrast several different aspects between the three.
Upload and download speed
LTE is the latest evolution of GSM wireless network. By time, the telecommunication standards have enhanced and progressed, set from GSM to GPRS, to EDGE, to WCDMA, to HSPA, and lastly to LTE. Verizon uses 4G-LTE quite effectively. The upload and download speeds are 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps respectively (GoingWimax.com, 2009). 4G WiMax can be known as IEEE802.16 standards. Sprint primarily employs 4G WiMax technologies while supporting data rates of 70 Mbps at download and 30 Mbps for upload respectively. (Black, 2014). 4G WiBro serves as an alternative to WiMax. The data rates depends upon distance from antenna, it supports upload and download data rates of up to 30-50 Mbps respectively (GoingWimax.com, 2009).
User perceptions
Generally, the customers of 4G networks are by and large truly glad because of the accessibility to network. Now one can watch videos and stream music faster than ever. Although with the advances in the 4G network, few customers have come across poor 4G facilities. The larger parts of those clients don’t live in the main metropolitan areas (MAN). Certainly this problem will be comprehended as more 4G service capacities are installed and executed. Anyway, saving charm of 4G wireless services providers’ is, that number of them are backward companionable with 3G (GoingWimax.com, 2009).
Backward compatibility
4G-LTE and WiMax (Black, 2014) are both backward compatible with 3G. WiBro technology was not executed as a cycle of a 3G system and doesn’t have a 3G model. To exploit the 4G capacities given by wireless networks, purchasers needed to redesign from 3G to 4G gadgets. 4G LTE has backward compability service availability to LTE advanced (Black, 2014). This permits a 4G gadget that passages out of the scope of 4G services to substitute to a 3G system and keeps on operating, however at a slower 3G pace (GoingWimax.com, 2009).
Service availability
In United States, Verizon's 4G LTE presently cover 2/3rd of the nation. Whereas, Sprint's 4G WiMax covers around 1/3rd, however they are looking to move predominantly to LTE technology later on yet will keep on supporting WiMax. WiBro is doled out to Korea for their 4G necessities (GoingWimax.com, 2009).
Competition amongst 4G LTE carriers and its benefits to subscribers
The rivalry between 4G-LTE carriers is truly vicious on the grounds that once the technology is out any carrier that adjusts to it more rapidly can claim to have that innovation. Presently individuals need speedy internet services. They need to have the capacity to do what they do at home or away from home that would make them more creative. Additionally increasing number of organizations have their workforce usually working on a foreign site and they need the fastest internet for the employees since waiting for the workers to load the attachment is the time which they have to pay to employees to wait. It is essentially about supply and interest. What's more 4G LTE is speedy and therefore whoever can offer it to purchasers first will have a superior piece of the pie. (3G/4G wireless network latency: Comparing Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile in February 2014, 2014)
There are advantages to the subscribers under the light of the fact that it would bring down the cost. Now, you can get unlimited talk text and data at 4G LTE speed for $60 at Metro PCS. Clients will have many alternatives to look around for the services that are compatible to their needs and their financial resources. Likewise, there will be a larger coverage of 4G LTE. . The mobile phone companies will erect a tower there to expand their coverage in a map which in turn will encourage customers. That implies that the subscribers can utilize their cell phones at 4G speed in places where they usually would not be able to have used it.
Verizon vs. AT&T: market coverage
Previously Verizon had established strong 3G market that was covering vast majority of US. Verizon (Frank, 2012) had the capacity to make rapider strides was on account of they have one year advantage which permitted them to work out the bugs sooner and to get a head start off over AT&T (Frank, 2012). They just need to redesign it to cover 4G systems. Moreover, Verizon telephones were focused around CDMA and 4G LTE was perfect with CDMA benefits. In this way AT&T needed to hold up for 4G LTE to be good to GSM gadgets which lives up to expectations through SIM cards (Frank, 2012). The key here in Verizon's prosperity is that they were attempting to build its piece of the overall industry by bringing out 4G LTE quicker than any carrier. Verizon's capacity to market through third-party sellers is additionally an alternate impetus which netted them an alternate 17 million clients (Frank, 2012). Fig. 1 shows the US carriers network latency respectively (3G/4G wireless network latency: Comparing Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile in February 2014, 2014).
Figure 1 U.S. carrier network latency across all high-speed wireless networks
(3G/4G wireless network latency: Comparing Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile in February 2014)
Conclusion
With the consistent ubiquitous evolution of technology both in wireless systems and the cell phones, the competences for consumers will keep on growing. As cell phone manufacturers and wireless network gadgets producers keep on improving gadgets, the wireless service providers will keep on discovering better approach to get customers to move up to the most recent innovation and to put more cash in the organizations' wallets.
References
Akhtar, S. Akhter, S. (2009). 2G-4G Networks: Evolution of technologies, standards, and deployment. Encyclopedia of Multimedia Technology and Networking, Ideas Group Publisher. Retrieved from http://faculty.uaeu.ac.ae/s.akhtar/EncyPaper04.pdf
Black, K. (2014). What Are the Differences between WiFi®, WiMAX and WiBro™? Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-differences-between-wifi-wimax-and-wibro.htm
Frank, R. (2012). Verizon: A Strong Play for Profits Now, Retrieved from http://seekingalpha.com/article/475501-verizon-a-strong-play-for-profits-now
3G/4G wireless network latency: Comparing Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile in February 2014. (2014, March 17). Retrieved November 17, 2014, from http://www.fiercewireless.com/special-reports/3g4g-wireless-network-latency-comparing-verizon-att-sprint-and-t-mobile-feb
GoingWimax.com. (2009). What is the Difference Between WiMax and LTE? Retrieved from http://www.goingwimax.com/what-is-the-difference-between-wimax-and-lte-4155/
Kate T., (n.d.). 3G vs 4G. Diffen.com. Diffen LLC. Retrieved 13 Nov 2014, from http://www.diffen.com/difference/3G_vs_4G
Segan, S. (2013, December 6). 3G vs. 4G: What's the Difference? News & Opinion, PCMag.com. Retrieved from http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2399984,00.asp
Viswanahan, P. (2012). 3G Vs 4G – Which is Better? Pros and Cons of the 3G and 4G Networks, Retrieved from http://mobiledevices.about.com/od/carrierfaq/a/3g-Vs-4g-Which-Is-Better.htm
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