LTE

Long Term Evolution (LTE), 4th generation (4G) mobile broadband standard is a radio platform technology. It is successor to the 3G technologies GSM/UMTS. Instead of using the transmitting signals via microwaves, LTE utilizes a radio platform. This technology provides broadband services wirelessly. To access the network you will need LTE modem which can be in USB format, ExpressCard, PCMCIA, or embedded in a laptop and mobile phones. The users will not have to search for the WiFi hotspot in order to access internet. If you have the LTE modem you can connect to the internet anywhere in the service provider's coverage area.

Key Details of LTE

Downlink peak data rates up to 100 Mbps with 20 MHz bandwidth
Uplink peak data rates up to 50 Mbps with 20 MHz bandwidth
Reduced latency to 10 msec round-trip time between user equipment and base station
 
HSPA

High Speed packet Access (HSPA) is an amalgamation of two technologies, one for the downlink (HSDPA) and the other for the uplink (HSUPA). WCDMA protocols are used to improve the performance of existing 3rd generation mobile telecommunication networks. Existing 3G UMTS infrastructure can be used to build HSPA. HSPA networks are offering peak rates at 14.4 Mbps. higher data speeds as well as shorter service response times and better availability of services are delivered by HSPA.

UMTS

UMTS, the third generation mobile technology for GSM based networks, stands for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. At times, the technology described in UMTS is also referred to as Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access (FOMA) or 3GSM. Unlike EDGE, UMTS requires new base stations and new frequency allocations. It is a third generation broadband, packet based transmission of text, video, audio in digital format. it is certified by chief standard bodies and manufacturers as the planned model for mobile users all over the world. UMTS phones and data cards are highly portable, i.e., developed to roam easily on to other UMTS networks.

EDGE

Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE), a third-generation (3G) technology is a faster version of GPRS. It enables high-speed packet-data services such as Internet access and streaming multimedia. Same protocols of GPRS and existing cell arrangements are used to build the EDGE standard. EDGE has been developed to deliver data at rates up to 474 kbps, with average throughput of 70 to 130 kbps on both the downlink and the uplink. When the user is using GPRS signals during browsing, it denoted by the letter ‘G’ (next to the signal strength). When the handset is using EDGE signals it is denoted by the letter ‘E’. Wide range of data services are supported which includes streaming audio and video, fast Internet access, Push-to-Talk (PTT) services and large file downloads

GPRS

General packet radio service (GPRS) allows information to be sent and received across a mobile telephone network. It allows 2G, 3G and WCDMA mobile networks to transmit IP packets to external networks such as the Internet. GPRS can transmit both voice and data at higher data transfer rates. The billing of a GPRS connection is calculated on the amount of data actually transferred. In the terms of speed data transfer rate of 172 kbps are possible, although the maximum data rates realistically achievable under most conditions will be in the range 10 - 20 kbps.

Services offered by GPRS
• SMS messaging and broadcasting
• "Always on" internet access
• Multimedia messaging service (MMS)
• Push to talk over cellular (PoC)
• Instant messaging and presence—wireless village
• Internet applications for smart devices through wireless application protocol (WAP)