The Future Of Mobile Broadband Technology

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Introduction: This paper provides an overview of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)—the leading technologies for next-generation mobile broadband.Customers want more information, such as business and consumer applications, and entertainment available through their mobile devices, but with greater speeds. For wireless carriers to achieve greater speeds and pervasive connectedness, their networks need to start behaving more like landline IP-based networks. Enter the fourth-generation (4G) wireless network. Unlike earlier wireless standards, 4G technology is based on TCP/IP, the core protocol of the Internet. TCP/IP enables wireless networks to deliver higher-level services, such as video and multimedia.

Verizon Wireless and LTE Mobile BroadbandTechnology:Wirelesscarriers are keenly interested in choosing the best technology for their customers—for both today and tomorrow. For Verizon Wireless, selecting the right technology is imperative.

Wireless Technology Overview:Wireless technologies enable one or more devices to communicate without an actual wired connection. Wireless communications needs can all be classified in one of three ways, based on the distance they are meant to cover. These include,wireless personal area networks (WPAN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), and wireless wide area networks (WWAN).

WPAN:Wireless networks form the transport mechanism between devices and traditional wired networks. WPANs are limited to distances under about 10 meters and these connections are termed ad hoc because they do not generally need to connect to any network infrastructure to operate. These include technologies such as Bluetoothtechnology,infrared(IR),ultrawideband.

WLAN:WLANs provide connections designed to connect devices to wired networks. Unlike a wired LAN, a WLAN does not require cabling to connect the device to a switch or router. A single access point communicates with nearby WLAN devices in a coverage area of about 100 meters. This technology includes WIFI.

WWAN:WWANs provide broadband data networks with a far greater range, using cellular technologies such as GPRS, HSPA, UMTS, 1xRTT, 1xEV-DO, and LTEWireless data devices connect to a wireless broadband network through a commercial carrier’s data network, allowing broadband performance without the need for a cabled connection to a network infrastructure (much like a WLAN), while providing end users with far greater mobility.

WWAN EVOLUTION:

1.CDMA TO LTE: The evolution path is 1G->CDMAOne->CDMA2000->CDMA2000 1Xev-D0->CDMA20001xEV-DORel.0->CDMA20001xEV-DO Rev.A->LTE.

2.GSM TO LTE:The evolution path is 1G->GSM->W-CDMA->HSPA->HSDPA->HSUPA->HSPA+->LTE.

LTE: LTE is a 4G wireless technology that Verizon Wireless and numerous leading wireless carriers have chosen as their upgrade path beyond 3G technologies. 4G networks are comprehensive IP solutions that deliver voice, data, and multimedia content to mobile users anytime and almost anywhere. 4G technology standards offer greatly improved data rates over previous generations of wireless technology

Various technology standards bodies began to explore options for their 4G wireless technology offerings. Two groups, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), representing the family of networks generally referred to as GSM, and the Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), representing the family of networks generally referred to as CDMA, are working together to lay the foundation for LTE.

Benefits expected from LTE technology areHigh peak speeds, Low latency,Scalable bandwidth,Improved spectrum effieciency,Improved cell edge data rates.TheLTE supporting technologies are MIMO,OFDM,SC-FDMA.

WiMAX Overview:WiMAX refers to the standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) for 802.16 wireless networks. IEEE is a developer and one of the governing bodies that determine international standards for many of today’s telecommunications, information technology, and power generation products and services. IEEE developed the set of standards for WLAN, commonly known as "Wi-Fi" (IEEE 802.11). 802.16 is the set of IEEE standards for broadband WLAN and WMAN.Benefits expected from WiMAX technology are46 Mbps downlink peak data rate ,7 Mbps uplink peak datarate,Scalable bandwidth, Enhanced support .MIMO and OFDM are the supporting technologies of WIMAX.

A Technology Comparison between LTE and WiMAX:LTE and WiMAX have many features and functions in common; more so than one might think. Both are 4G wireless technologies designed to move data rather than voice. Both are all-IP technologies that strictly separate the wireless network from the applications that run on them. In terms of how they operate, both LTE and WiMAX have more in common with Wi-Fi and the Internet than with traditional cellular networks that exist today. Rather than being rival wireless technologies, such as GSM and CDMA, WiMAX and LTE are more like siblings.

Conclusion:LTE is the future of the Verizon wireless broadband network. This technology will allow Verizon Wireless to offer users more of what they want, which is untethered mobility. Verizon Wireless is fully committed to LTE mobile technology and improving its wireless network.