3.      LTE (Long Term Evolution)

      LTE, or long-term evolution, is a type of mobile broadband that rivals WiMAX. Both services are IP-based and use a technology called orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) access. They also use a type of wireless technology that lets people get high-speed Internet across coverage areas that span miles.

      The standard is maintained as a project of the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), operating under a name trademarked by one of the associations within the partnership, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

      The goal of LTE is to increase the capacity and speed of wireless data networks utilizing cutting-edge hardware and DSP techniques that have recently been developed. Its wireless interface is incompatible with 2G and 3G networks, and so it must be operated on separate wireless spectrum.

      Features of LTE include an all-IP flat network architecture, end-to-end QoS including provisions for low-latency communications, peak download rates nearing 300 mbps and upload rates of 75 mbps, capacity exceeding 200 active users per cell, the ability to manage fast-moving mobiles, and support for multi-cast and broadcast streams.

4.      Comparisons

a.      WiMAX V/s Wi-Fi

      WiMAX operates on the same general principles as Wi-Fi – it sends data from one computer to another via radio signals. A computer (either a desktop or a laptop) equipped with WiMAX would receive data from the WiMAX transmitting station, probably using encrypted data keys to prevent unauthorized users from stealing access.

      The fastest Wi-Fi connection can transmit up to 54 megabits per second under optimal conditions. WiMAX should be able to handle up to 70 megabits per second. Even once those 70 megabits is split up between several dozen businesses or a few hundred home users, it will provide at least the equivalent of cable-modem transfer rates to each user.

      The biggest difference isn’t speed; it’s distance. WiMAX outdistances Wi-Fi by miles. Wi-Fi range is about 100 feet (30 m). WiMAX will blanket a radius of 30 miles (50 km) with wireless access. The increased range is due to the frequencies used and the power of the transmitter. Of course, at that distance, terrain, weather and large buildings will act to reduce the maximum range in some circumstances, but the potential is there to cover huge tracts of land.

b.      LTE V/s WiMAX

      While LTE and WiMAX use essentially the same technology, there are some key differentiators between the two mobile Internet services. One of the biggest differences is speed. LTE technology claims to deliver download speeds up to 100 Mbps. However, most users will likely experience speeds of 10-30Mbps. WiMAX speeds typically come in at around 12 Mbps  

c.      Comparison between WiMAX, 3G and LTE 

Notes: All speeds are theoretical maximums and will vary by a number of factors, including the use of external antennae, distance from the tower and the ground speed (e.g. communications on a train may be poorer than when standing still).