JOIN USTelecom players are now betting big on a surge in fourth generation (4G) broadband and mobile connectivity.
Although Bengaluru became the first city to get 4G for mobile in February 2014, the technology had to wait till more 4G-enabled smartphones entered the market. An year later, 4G, promising speeds up to five times that of 3G, is suddenly alive.
Here’s why the demand could grow: At 4G speeds, it could be possible to enjoy high definition video streaming with zero buffering, download 10 movies in less than 30 minutes, upload full holiday albums in less than five minutes and also connect multiple devices without any experience constraint.
So far, the service had device constraint with only a few smartphones such as Redmi Note 4G capable of accessing the hi-speed mobile internet. The flooded market now boasts of many 4G-compatible phones such as the Samsung Alpha, Samsung Note 4, Samsung A5, Samsung Note 4 edge,Samsung S5, LG G2, LG G3, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, Xolo LT 900, Oppo Find 7a, Lenovo Vibe X2, Micromax YU Yureka, Nokia Lumia 638, and HTC One M8 Eye.
To drive growth, the telecom biggies have made the transition from 3G to 4G seamless. For instance, the Airtel 4G plans are a replica of its 3G plans. Subscribers would just have to upgrade an existing 2G / 3G SIM card to a USIM (Universal SIM) / 4G SIM.
Airtel and other players have lined up a slew of devices to access 4G on smartphones, tablets, laptops and even desktops. One of them is the 4G-dongle, a USB device that could be connected to a laptop/desktop for instant high-speed connectivity. The 4G-hotspot is another, which creates a Wi-Fi zone that lets internet to be shared among up to 10 users. A test showed the speeds were much faster than 3G, with even YouTube videos opening in a jiffy.
While dongles and hotspots are aimed at those on the move, the 4G Wi-Fi router is a device meant for the home PC. But it could also be connected to all Wi-Fi enabled devices such as laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, smart TVs and security systems. As many as 32 users / devices could be supported, claims the telecom service provider.
Mobile-users and customers of other broadband customers feel that with 3G speeds slowing down due to multiplicity of users, 4G could be the way out. More service providers are expected to boost their 4G infrastructure in Bengaluru, thus expanding the reach of the technology in the City.