4g or LTE

[andy]

The first commercial 4g networks have launched, TeliaSonera in selected cities in Norway and Sweden, just Stockholm and Oslo so far, with licences also in Finland

TeliaSonera press release

www.teliasonera.com/4g

up to 100 megabits per second, apparently, or 20 to 80, depending on source


I read about it on TechCrunch First 4G Mobile Network Launches . . . In Sweden

TeliaSonera says it will roll out the 4G service to 25 cities in Sweden and Norway in 2010. But you know how these things go. The full rollout may take longer because they are still trying to follow the instructions on how to put it together. They are pretty sure they are missing some bolts. (We’ve all been there).

Slightly more detailed discussion on 4G network goes live for lucky few ? The Register

LTE is a data-centric networking technology, but TeliaSonera's roll-out goes further by being data only: no LTE handsets have been announced or demonstrated, which makes sense when voice is better handled on the 3G network running at 2.1GHz.

Not that LTE has any problems carrying voice - the power of LTE lies in its flexibility which allows it to operate at hugely variable speeds and frequencies. LTE isn't just intended to extend 3G capabilities, but to replace every radio standard used in mobile telephony*.