Today, Verizon announced its plans to launch LTE or 4G and Clearwire isn’t missing this opportunity to address that. What’s the subject of debate? Use of the term “4G” and what it means. Basically, Clearwire is admitting that “4G” is being used as a marketing term right now, especially since both Verizon and T-Mobile are using the term for their LTE and HSPA+ networks, respectively.
Clearwire says, “This has prompted many in the industry to start a debate over the definition of ‘4G’.” Quite frankly, there really isn’t much of a debate over the definition of the technology since the ITU – the body that defines these standards – has already decided that only WiMax 2 and LTE-Advanced will be true 4G technologies. The latter has already been formally ratified by the ITU, in fact.
Many don’t consider LTE or WiMax to be 4G technologies, but are at a loss for what to call it since it’s an intermediary technology between 3G and true 4G. What it has come down to is watching the networks bicker and banter over whose network is better or whose network can truly be called 4G. It’s like watching them each with carrots, broccoli, parsnips and asparagus and arguing over who has the real fruit.
I do find a bit of irony in Clearwire’s statement in that it calls out Verizon and T-Mobile for using 4G as a marketing term, then goes on to give its own definition of 4G and claims that it was the pioneer of the next generation technology. Moreover, Clearwire has defined 4G in such a way that its network is the true, if not superior, 4G technology.
“We think “next generation” equals three things – Speed, Capacity, and Value,” says Mike Sievert of Clearwire.
It’s evident that the WiMax provider, along with Sprint, has more capacity or spectrum than Verizon does with LTE, T-Mobile with HSPA+ and soon AT&T with its own LTE network. It’s convenient to add that into its definition of next generation technology. Speed, on the other hand, greatly varies and the promise on WiMax is 3-6Mbps real world speeds with peaks of up to 10Mbps in the most perfect conditions. Those speeds will easily be rivaled, if not beaten, by LTE. Even HSPA+ provides equal or better speeds depending on the region.
Lastly, there is value, which is a completely subjective term (much like this entire 4G debate). Are we talking pricing, coverage, availability or otherwise? It really depends on the area, the types of devices users want (Clearwire doesn’t offer mobile phones) and availability. In my experience, you can get great WiMax coverage in one area, but little to no signal just a few blocks away or perhaps inside a building.
To see more about what Clearwire has to say regarding this ongoing debate, see the link below.
[Via: Clearwire]