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Understanding 4G Wireless Technology

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4G stands for the 4th generation of wireless technology. It’s essentially a set of standards that define high-speed data connections or internet connections for mobile devices.

4G offers impressive data speeds: around 100Mbps for devices on the move (high mobility) and about 1Gbit/s for stationary or slow-moving devices (low mobility). The difference in speed is because channel models are less variable over time for low mobility devices, whereas they change rapidly for high mobility devices. Think of a channel model as the pathway or medium between the transmitter and receiver.

4G

As the image illustrates, 4G encompasses technologies like Mobile WiMAX, LTE, and LTE-Advanced. 4G’s high data rates enable a wide range of applications, including video conferencing, mobile TV, gaming, multimedia, and much more.

Several technologies support 4G standards, including:

  • WiMAX-16e, 16m
  • LTE
  • LTE-Advanced
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
  • 802.11ad

These technologies achieve such high data rates largely due to the use of MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output), where data is transmitted simultaneously over multiple antennas.

To truly understand 4G technologies, you need to delve into the specifics of each individual technology listed above.