What is 4G?
In telecommunications, 4G is the fourth generation of cell phone mobile communications standards. It is a successor of the third generation (3G) standards. A 4G system provides mobile ultra-broadband Internet access, for example to laptops with USB wireless modems, to smartphones, and to other mobile devices.
4G, known as the ultra-broadband allows mobile phone users to surf
the Internet, video conference and download music, video, IP telephony, gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, 3D television and other
content at a rate several times faster than 3G services that are still
being rolled out across the country.
A successor to the 3G and 2G
families, 4G is expected to be five times quicker than 3G service.
4G in India
Analysts say India's rural areas offer huge market
potential but erecting infrastructure to support high-speed networks
will be costly, making urban areas the immediate battlegrounds for
customers.
Mittal said that the TD-LTE (Long Term Evolution)
technology adopted by Airtel would be the platform for future broadband
revolution.
"We hope that this technology would be emulated and
followed by those who got Braodband Wireless Access (BWA) licenses," he
said at the launch event.
Where You Get A 4G?
Bharti managed to win 4G spectrum in just four of India's 22
telecoms zones in the auction, paying Rs 3,314 crore for spectrum in the
Maharashtra,
Karnataka,
Kolkata and
Punjab zones.
After Kolkata Airtel will be launching 4G in Bangalore this month
followed by Pune and in Chandigarh.
The network
for rolling out Airtel's 4G LTE services in the city had been built by
Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE. Airtel is the first mobile operator
to launch 4G services in the country. Bharti Airtel has already awarded
the contract for building and operating its 4G network in Maharashtra
to Nokia Siemens Networks.
4G Cost ?
The cost of the 4G USIM will be Rs. 49 and airtel 4G dongle will be priced at Rs7999 indoor wifi CPE @ Rs. 7750.As an Intro offer for postpaid 999 users will get discount of Rs. 167 per bill for 6 months and 1399 users will get discount of Rs. 466 per bill for 6months and there will be no 4G smartphone as of now.
Challenges
As coverage of LTE in India is expected to
be poor at this stage, smartphones will not do good. Even if only 3G
& 4G compatiable phones are offered it will not do good as no
operators has pan India 3G spectrum and 3G coverage is still poor. Also
TD-LTE requires more power than FDD-LTE. So tablets and dongles are the
safe bet right now. Dongles must be multimode (2G/CDMA/3G/LTE)
supported.
Comparison of Mobile Internet Access methods
Part 2: 4G Supported Devices.