AT&T, Verizon and Sprint 4G

[Wicked1]

http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/23/technology/4g_networks/index.htm

 

[rdowns]

But, but, but I want a Verizon iPhone.

 

[kdarling]

Sometimes I despair at the state of technical reporting these days. For example, the article says:

Though Verizon said it will be able to achieve speeds of up to 15 megabits per second when it first deploys its 4G network, experts are taking a more cautious outlook.

"There's no way 4G will be close to those speeds," said Sharma. "Maybe in a lab."

Okay, that makes sense, but then the article turns a blind eye to similar theoretical claims:

T-Mobile and AT&T run their 3G networks on a different standard, which experts say has a maximum speed of about 21 megabits per second -- faster than the speeds LTE will likely be able to offer right off the bat.

Except that ATT won't have 21 Mbps off the bat either. It has only just now deployed 7.2Mbps HSPA, which averages 2.5 Mbps in real life, according to longterm results overseas.

Even if they set up the 21Mbps version, which is deployed by a few carriers already, it only averages around 7Mbps in real life.

Reporters should report the theoretical, real life max, and actual averages for all networks in their article.

 

[TurdFerguson]

but then no one would go 'WHOA 21MBPS!!!!! WTFHAX!!!!!" and want to read the article 🙄

 

[Applejuiced]

Except that ATT won't have 21 Mbps off the bat either. It has only just now deployed 7.2Mbps HSPA, which averages 2.5 Mbps in real life, according to longterm results overseas.

The highest I hit with 3G so far is 3.8MB
And around 2.5MB on the regural.

 

[jav6454]

Except that ATT won't have 21 Mbps off the bat either. It has only just now deployed 7.2Mbps HSPA, which averages 2.5 Mbps in real life, according to longterm results overseas.

Even if they set up the 21Mbps version, which is deployed by a few carriers already, it only averages around 7Mbps in real life.

Reporters should report the theoretical, real life max, and actual averages for all networks in their article.

Keep telling yourself that. T-Mobile's HSPA+ network (theoretical at 21Mb/s) is reaching real life speeds of 19Mb/s... much over your so-called averages. Also, 2.5Mb/s is not the real life number for 7.2Mb/s, try 3.3Mb/s, which is what many users here are reporting in cities were backhauls have been improved.

Sure there is some telling to all Verizon fanboys here

 

[kdarling]

Keep telling yourself that. T-Mobile's HSPA+ network (theoretical at 21Mb/s) is reaching real life speeds of 19Mb/s... much over your so-called averages.

And some Verizon LTE users will see 50 Mbps. So what?

The point of the thread is that a reporter tried to compare theoretical maximums to real life speeds.

What really counts are actual average speeds under load.

 

[scaredpoet]

And some Verizon LTE users will see 50 Mbps. So what?

The "so what" in the fact that HPSA+ is here, now, in some fashion, and people are using it and getting pretty close to promised speeds. LTE is still vaporware at this point, with only people in labs having used it so far.

 

[ScrappyDoo80]

Sounds to me like its a good idea to have switched to ATT and got the iPhone 3GS... Best hardware out there and will continue to have the best speeds... the 3G network on ATT will only continue to get better and by the time it's maxed it will be very fast, then it will be time for the newest neatest highest-tech iPhone with 4G blazability.

 

[zonesey]

The "so what" in the fact that HPSA+ is here, now, in some fashion, and people are using it and getting pretty close to promised speeds. LTE is still vaporware at this point, with only people in labs having used it so far.

^^ The first 4G network has been running here in Stockholm for over two months already http://www.telia4g.se/

I live at the border of the coverage map http://www.telia4g.se/om-4g
If I take the trash out, seems like I'm already out of reach 😀

I talked to a guy at a Telia store here and he said the users were getting like 5-10 Mbps, in real life. Of course there are not too many users yet (LTE uses channel dependent scheduling and rate adaptation), so I think I'll go and ask again after a while, so maybe they'll have more information on how it is actually performing.

The theoretical maximum of 50 Mbps will likely give higher peak data rates than a HSPA+ and you should also note that it's not all about the peak data rates... It's about reliability, delay, power consumption, not to mention that LTE is a big leap toward IMT(-Advanced)...