4G and The Mobile Web: WiMAX vs. LTE
The next phase in the rapid move to the mobile web is 4G. I discussed this progression in my post to this blog Future of Wireless Devices on December 26, 2007. What this means for us no one can say with any certainty. Right now it is safe to say that we will be getting faster downloads and much more functionality to include mobile-video sharing. The two wireless networking standards are WiMAX and Long Term Evolution.
Wikipedia defines WiMAX as follows:
WiMAX, the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a telecommunications technology that provides wireless data in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular type access. It is based on the IEEE 802.16 standard, which is also called WirelessMAN. The name "WiMAX" was created by the WiMAX Forum, which was formed in June 2001 to promote conformance and interoperability of the standard. The forum describes WiMAX as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL" (and also to High Speed Packet Access). Currently, Pakistan has the largest fully functional Wimax network in the world.
Wikipedia defines Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) as follows:
3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the name given to a project within the Third Generation Partnership Project to improve the UMTS mobile phone standard to cope with future technology evolutions. Goals include improving spectral efficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of new spectrum and refarmed spectrum opportunities, and better integration with other open standards. The LTE project is not a standard, but it will result in the new evolved Release 8 of the 3GPP specifications, including mostly or wholly extensions and modifications of the UMTS system. The architecture that will result from this work is called EPS (Evolved Packet System) and comprises E-UTRAN (Evolved UTRAN) on the access side and EPC (Evolved Packet Core) on the core side.
Judy Mottl has an excellent analysis in her InternetNews.com article entitled Who’s ahead in the 4G race? At present it would seem as though the winner in the race could be WiMAX. They have deployments up and running, however there is a surge in the acceptance of the LTE networking standards by the likes of AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Nortel. Sprint-Nextel is backing WiMAX. Mottl has done her homework and I highly recommend her article. She concludes with a look to the acceptance of 4G by enterprises and quotes Carmi Levy, senior VP, strategic consulting for AR Communication:
"Enterprises need to be watching and be aware of what's coming though it's not really in the line of vision at this point," Levy said, adding that vendors will be focused on providing what's most important to business -- solid voice and data networking performance at lower price points.
"In three to four years we'll know what will be. At this point it's about watching the landscape develop and adapting, if necessary, to leverage what's coming," Levy said.
