Prospects for the Evolution of 3G and 4G 

Published by Analysys Mason (February 2006)

 

Dr Alastair Brydon, CEO of Sound Partners Dr Alastair Brydon
CEO of Sound Partners

Dr Mark Heath
Director of Research, Sound Partners

 

  “Proponents of alternative wireless technologies often point to the shortcomings of 3G for the delivery of some important services, such as mobile TV and Internet access. However, 3G long term evolution (LTE) could dramatically enhance 3G capabilities by 2009. In this report we model 3G LTE to understand the service strategies it could support, and show how it stacks up against alternatives, such as DVB-H and WiMAX.”  
 

Product overview

High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service (MBMS) bring important enhancements to W-CDMA networks. However, they do not match the capabilities of broadcasting technologies (such as DVB-H and MediaFLO) and broadband wireless access technologies (such as WiMAX and WiBro) in certain important aspects of mobile TV service delivery and Internet access. 3G may need a major leap in performance to remain competitive.

This report considers the options for the evolution of 3G W-CDMA networks, focusing on the forthcoming 3G LTE and 4G standards. It evaluates the realistic capabilities of 3G LTE, in terms of throughput, capacity, latency and cost per megabyte. By modelling a typical network, it quantifies the practical gains that will be achieved by 3G LTE and the service mixes that it will be able to support. It also evaluates the benefits of additional spectrum for 3G LTE, such as the IMT-2000 extension bands.

The report identifies clear actions for mobile network operators, equipment vendors and regulators, to seize the opportunities provided by the evolution of 3G networks.  

  

Full information on the report 

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This report answers your key questions

Prospects for the Evolution of 3G and 4G answers your key questions:

  • How far will HSPA and MBMS take mobile networks?

  • What are 3G LTE and 4G and when will they be commercially available?

  • What will 3G LTE realistically provide, in terms of capabilities, cost per megabyte and services supported?

  • Will 3G LTE support an aggressive fixed–mobile substitution strategy, to compete with enhanced DSL services and IPTV? Can it provide a broad mix of mobile TV and video services?

  • How well will 3G LTE meet mobile operator requirements compared with alternative technologies, such as DVB-H and WiMAX?

  • What is the value of additional spectrum, for example from 3G extension bands and GSM spectrum refarming?

  • What actions can operators take to seize the opportunities that 3G LTE offers?