The era of mobile high speed Internet is upon us. The technology that will bring Internet users online access while they are on the go has been created and is currently being introduced in more and more cities around the country all the time. Perhaps a better way to refer this “era” is as a generation. After all, that is exactly what the tech people are calling it – the fourth generation to be exact.
Fourth generation, or 4G wireless data networks are looking to replace 3G networks in many places. The third generation first introduced the possibility of getting online using your cell phone. But 3G connections tend to not be very fast, and are less reliable than fourth generation connections. This latest generation improves upon the advancements of the previous generation in several ways. 4G connection speeds are not only much faster, but they are also much more dependable and less likely to cut out unexpectedly. Add to that the fact that coverage areas are huge – a single network can connect people from all corners of an entire city to the Internet – and what you have is a broadband service that delivers all the mobile benefits of wireless technology.
There are two different types of technology responsible for making the fourth generation of wireless data networks possible. These are called LTE and WiMax, 4G LTE USB Adapter United States terms short for Long Term Evolution and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, respectively. Both of these are currently in competition to become the leader in this market, but both have their own sets of pros and cons that come with them. So, what is the difference between them?
If you want high speed mobile Internet and you want it right now, then your best bet is to look for a WiMax network in your area. This is because these networks are currently much more available than LTE networks. For one thing, the infrastructure behind these networks has already been introduced in a lot of cities across the United States. LTE networks are a lot harder to find. Another reason is that there are currently a lot more devices that are able to be used with the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access standard than the Long Term Evolution standard. In fact, you may not even need to purchase a new device at all. A lot of the latest smart phones are sold with all the necessary hardware built in, and if you are using a laptop to connect, all you will need in order to make it compatible with this service is a portable modem that can be plugged into your USB port.
On the other hand, this service is not as fast as LTE. LTE connections, which have the potential of reaching download speeds up to 100 Mbps, are more than ten times faster than the maximum connection speeds currently available through WiMax. This means that, while you might have to wait a little longer for LTE to become available, once you are able to upgrade to this service, the difference between third generation and fourth generation will be enormous for you.
