One of the most watched for technolo-gies at present is the 4G LTE or the fourth generation long-term

evolution. The wireless communi-cations standard that everyone is talking about is designed to pro-vide much faster speeds than 3G networks for mobile devices such as smart phones, tablets, net-books, notebooks and wireless hotspots.

Being the fastest network avail-able means download speeds four to fi ve times faster than 3G net-works, which rivals some home broadband connections. The real hook, though, is the fact that con-sumers don’t have to be at home to appreciate these speeds. They can access the Internet and down-load data wherever there is cover-age with any 4G-enabled device, including smartphones, tablets and mobile hotspots.

In non-technical terms, data

means anything other than SMS (simple text messages) and phone calls. Everything else including downloading apps, checking emails, watching a YouTube video or downloading a picture requires the use of data. The speed, then, is exactly why so many people are excited about 4G LTE. Cellular data is a part of many peoples’ lives and the ability to utilise and experience the internet in a quick-er, richer way opens new possi-bilities for both business and per-sonal lives.

Taking advantage of the tech-nology, a fresh initiative aimed at creating a new educational envi-ronment in schools has been con-ceived. This involves distributing tablet PCs to students and provid-ing all government schools with 4G high-speed networks. These measures are expected to improve the quality of education in line with the global scientifi c renais-sance.

Following the successful launch of Mohammed bin Rashid Initia-tive for Smart Learning by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-Presi-dent and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the pro-gramme recently held a workshop to share its vision with teachers.

The workshop was organised to give them an in-depth under-standing of the programme’s goals and to explain how they can im-plement this unique experience in the region. Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education, highlighted the impor-tance of the initiative in the minis-try’s goal to upgrade educational standards in the UAE.

“The process of education de-mands teamwork and investing in the best human resources and ex-

pertise as well as support from all national bodies so as to keep up with the overall progress achieved in the UAE under the leadership of the President, His Highness Shai-kh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses, Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of their respective emirates,” Qat-tami said in his speech.

Pertinently, accessing internet on the go has been made easier

with telecom providers off ering aff ordable packages, tailored to suit people’s browsing needs. “Ac-cessing the internet is as much a right as it is a pleasure in today’s world, and we are pleased to an-nounce our newest data bundles that off er online time to suit every-one’s budget. Whether you are an occasional user who wants to read an email on your mobile, or if you have to be plugged in 24/7 to stay up to date with the latest news and connected to your social networks, we have a value-added bundle to suit your needs,” said Farid Farai-

The future of communication has arrivedAs the buzz about 4G LTE gets louder, everyone from smartphone users to schools brace to lap up the new technology

Anders Lindblad

MOBILE broadband has quickly become a necessity, as the internet generation grows accustomed to having broadband access wherever they go and not just at home or in the offi ce. Of the estimated 3.4 bil-lion people who will have broad-band by 2014, about 80 per cent will be mobile broadband subscrib-ers and the majority will be served by High Speed Packed Access (HSPA) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.

People can already browse the internet or send emails using HS-PA-enabled notebooks by replac-ing their fi xed DSL modems with HSPA modems or USB dongles and send and receive video or mu-sic using 3G phones. With LTE, user experience will be even bet-ter. It will enhance more demand-ing applications such as interac-tive TV, mobile video blogging, advanced games and professional services, which have become a ne-cessity for today’s internet gener-ation.

Consumers understand and ap-preciate the benefits of mobile broadband. People already use mobile phones and connect their notebooks to wireless LANs. The step towards full mobile broad-band is intuitive and simple, espe-

cially with LTE that off ers ubiqui-tous coverage and roaming with existing 2G and 3G networks.

A number of broadband applica-tions are signifi cantly enhanced with mobility, community sites, search engines, presence applica-tions and content-sharing sites such as YouTube. With mobility, these applications become signifi -cantly more valuable to users. Us-er-generated content is particu-larly interesting, because it changes traffi c patterns, making the ability to uplink more impor-tant than ever. The high peak rates and short latency of LTE also en-ables real-time applications such as gaming and video-conferenc-ing, making LTE an inevitable transition for most operators.

As for the operators, they are now doing business in an increas-ingly competitive environment, competing not only with other op-erators, but also with new players and business models. However, new business models also mean new opportunities and mobile op-erators have the advantage of be-ing able to off er the competitive delivery of mobile broadband ser-vices using existing investments in 2G and 3G networks.

This is why operators are so ac-tive in formulating strategies and driving requirements for mobile

broadband through standardisa-tion bodies. Some of the world’s leading operators, vendors and re-search institutes have joined forces in the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) programme, which works alongside existing standardisation bodies and has es-tablished clear performance tar-gets, fundamental recommenda-tions and deployment scenarios for a future wide-area mobile broadband network. Although not defined by NGMN, LTE meets these requirements that include ef-fi cient reuse of existing assets, no impact on HSPA road maps and cost effi ciency.

One of the key success factors for any technology is economy of scale. The volume advantage is benefi cial for both handsets and infrastructure equipment, as it drives down the manufacturing costs and enables operators to pro-vide cost-effi cient services to their customers. This is also one of the main reasons new operators will benefi t from LTE.

Deployment of LTE will vary from country to country, according to regulatory requirements. The fi rst devices will be multimode-based, meaning that wide-area coverage, mobility and service continuity can be provided from day one, and existing mobile net-works can be used as fall-back in areas where LTE is not yet de-ployed. It is important that the de-ployment of LTE infrastructure is as simple and cost effi cient as pos-sible. For example, it should be possible to upgrade existing radio base stations to LTE using plug-in units, so they become both dual mode and dual band.

LTE offers several important benefi ts for users and operators including enhanced performance and capacity, simplicity and a wide range of compatible terminals, which will incorporate embedded LTE modules. Operators can intro-duce LTE fl exibly to match their existing network, spectrum and business objectives for mobile broadband. Therefore, with in-creasing competition and the end-users’ demands for faster and more effi cient services, LTE has emerged as the technology of the future.

New mobile technology will enhance applications such as interactive TV, mobile video blogging, advanced games and professional services, further enhancing user experience

LTE: A step towards the future

Anders Lindblad

dooni, chief commercial offi cer, du.

Already many newer Android-based smartphones are 4G LTE compatible. Expect both the up-coming iPhone 5 and iPad 4 to have built-in 4G LTE capabilities. Given the optimism and appetite of the market for 4G LTE, the cov-erage area is likely to expand rap-idly as new devices hit shelves. Knowing what 4G LTE means and the various benefi ts it encompass-es is going to the key for consum-ers when they make their next device purchase.

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