This Article May Require If You Can.: Cleanup Quality Standards
This Article May Require If You Can.: Cleanup Quality Standards
This Article May Require If You Can.: Cleanup Quality Standards
This article is about the mobile telecommunications standard. For other uses, see 4G (disambiguation).
4G refers to the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. It is a successor to 3G and 2G families of standards. The
nomenclature of the generations generally refers to a change in the fundamental nature of the service, non-backwards
compatible transmission technology and new frequency bands. The first was the move from 1981 analog (1G) to digital (2G)
transmission in 1992. This was followed, in 2002, by 3G multi-media support, spread spectrum transmission and at least
200 kbit/s, soon expected to be followed by 4G, which refers to all-IP packet-switched networks, mobile ultra-broadband
(gigabit speed) access and multi-carrier transmission.[citation needed] Pre-4G technologies such as mobile WiMAX and first-release
3G Long term evolution (LTE) have been available on the market since 2006[1] and 2009[2][3][4] respectively.
Contents
[hide]
1 Overview
2 Predecessors of 4G
o 2.1 LTE
o 2.2 WiMAX
Rev. C)
o 2.4 Flash-OFDM
o 3.1 Objectives
o 3.2 Approaches
3.2.1 Consideration
points
3.2.2 Principal
technologies
4 4G features
5 Components
o 5.1 Access schemes
o 5.2 IPv6 support
o 5.3 Advanced Antenna
Systems
o 5.4 Software-Defined Radio
(SDR)
technologies
o 6.1 Deployment plans
7 Beyond 4G research
9 References
o 9.1 Additional resources
[edit]Overview
A 4G system is expected to provide a comprehensive and secure all-IP based solution where facilities such as IP telephony,
ultra-broadband Internet access, gaming services and streamed multimedia may be provided to users.
This article uses 4G to refer to IMT-Advanced (International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced), as defined by ITU-R..
An IMT-Advanced cellular system must have target peak data rates of up to approximately 100 Mbit/s for high mobility such as
mobile access and up to approximately 1 Gbit/s for low mobility such as nomadic/local wireless access, according to the ITU
In all suggestions for 4G, the CDMA spread spectrum radio technology used in 3G systems and IS-95 is abandoned and
replaced by frequency-domain equalization schemes, for example multi-carrier transmission such as OFDMA. This is combined
[edit]Predecessors of 4G
[edit]LTE
Samsung LTE modem
The pre-4G technology 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is often branded "4G", but the first LTE release does not fully comply
with the IMT-Advanced requirements. LTE has a theoretical net bit rate capacity of up to 100 Mbit/s in the downlink and
50 Mbit/s in the uplink if a 20 MHz channel is used - and more if Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), i.e. antenna arrays, are
used.
The world's first publicly available LTE-service was opened in the two Scandinavian capitals Stockholm (Ericsson system)
and Oslo (a Huawei system) on the 14 December 2009, and branded 4G. The user terminals were manufactured by
Samsung [2] Most major mobile carriers in the United States and several worldwide carriers have announced plans to convert
The physical radio interface was at an early stage named High Speed OFDM Packet Access (HSOPA), now named Evolved
the 3GPP organization to ITU-T in the fall 2009, and expected to be released in 2012. The target of 3GPP LTE Advanced is to
reach and surpass the ITU requirements. LTE Advanced should be compatible with first release LTE equipment, and should
[edit]WiMAX
The Mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e-2005) mobile wireless broadband access (MWBA) standard is sometimes branded 4G, and
offers peak data rates of 128 Mbit/s downlink and 56 Mbit/s uplink over 20 MHz wide channels. The IEEE 802.16m evolution of
802.16e is under development, with the objective to fulfill the IMT-Advanced criteria of 1 Gbit/s for stationary reception and
100 Mbit/s for mobile reception. [8] The world's first commercial mobile WiMAX service was opened by KT in Seoul, South Korea
on 30 June 2006.[1]
Sprint Nextel has announced that it will be using WiMAX, branded as a "4G" network. [9]
improve the CDMA2000 mobile phone standard for next generation applications and requirements. In November
2008, Qualcomm, UMB's lead sponsor, announced it was ending development of the technology, favouring LTE instead. [10] The
objective was to achieve data speeds over 275 Mbit/s downstream and over 75 Mbit/s upstream.
[edit]Flash-OFDM
4G is being developed to accommodate the quality of service (QoS) and rate requirements set by further development of
existing 3G applications like mobile broadband access, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), video chat, mobile TV, but also
new services like HDTV. 4G may allow roaming with wireless local area networks, and may interact with digital video
broadcasting systems.
The 4G working group[clarification needed] has defined the following as objectives of the 4G wireless communication standard:
A nominal data rate of 100 Mbit/s while the client physically moves at high speeds relative to the station, and 1 Gbit/s
while client and station are in relatively fixed positions as defined by the ITU-R,[11]
A data rate of at least 100 Mbit/s between any two points in the world,[11]
Peak link spectral efficiency of 15 bit/s/Hz in the downlink, and 6.75 bit/s/Hz in the uplink (meaning that 1 Gbit/s in the
System spectral efficiency of up to 3 bit/s/Hz/cell in the downlink and 2.25 bit/s/Hz/cell for indoor usage. [6]
High quality of service for next generation multimedia support (real time audio, high speed data, HDTV video content,
[edit]Approaches
[edit]Consideration points
Coverage, radio environment, spectrum, services, business models and deployment types, users.
[edit]Principal technologies
MIMO: To attain ultra high spectral efficiency by means of spatial processing including multi-antenna and
multi-user MIMO
domain-equalization (SC-FDE) in the downlink: To exploit the frequency selective channel property without complex
equalization.
a.k.a. Linearly precoded OFDMA, LP-OFDMA) in the uplink: Variable bit rate by assigning different sub-channels to
Relaying, including fixed relay networks (FRNs), and the cooperative relaying concept, known as multi-mode protocol
[edit]4G features
According to the members of the 4G working group, the infrastructure and the terminals of 4G will have almost all the standards
from 2G to 4G implemented. Although legacy systems are in place to adopt existing users, the infrastructure for 4G will be only
packet-based (all-IP). Some proposals suggest having an open Internet platform. Technologies considered to be early 4G
include: Flash-OFDM, the 802.16e mobile version of WiMax (also known as WiBro in South Korea), and HC-SDMA
(see iBurst).
[edit]Components
[edit]Access schemes
This section contains information which may be of unclear or
questionable importance or relevance to the article's subject matter.
Please help improve this article by clarifying or removing superfluous information. (May 2010)
As the wireless standards evolved, the access techniques used also exhibited increase in efficiency, capacity and scalability.
The first generation wireless standards used plain TDMA and FDMA. In the wireless channels, TDMA proved to be less
efficient in handling the high data rate channels as it requires large guard periods to alleviate the multipath impact. Similarly,
FDMA consumed more bandwidth for guard to avoid inter carrier interference. So in second generation systems, one set of
standard used the combination of FDMA and TDMA and the other set introduced an access scheme called CDMA. Usage of
CDMA increased the system capacity, but as a theoretical drawback placed a soft limit on it rather than the hard limit (i.e. a
CDMA network setup does not inherently reject new clients when it approaches its limits, resulting in a denial of service to all
clients when the network overloads; though this outcome is avoided in practical implementations by admission control of circuit
switched or fixed bitrate communication services). Data rate is also increased as this access scheme (providing the network is
not reaching its capacity) is efficient enough to handle the multipath channel. This enabled the third generation systems, such
as IS-2000, UMTS, HSXPA, 1xEV-DO, TD-CDMA and TD-SCDMA, to use CDMA as the access scheme. However, the issue
with CDMA is that it suffers from poor spectral flexibility and computationally intensive time-domain equalization (high number
FDMA and Multi-carrier CDMA (MC-CDMA) are gaining more importance for the next generation systems. These are based on
efficient FFT algorithms and frequency domain equalization, resulting in a lower number of multiplications per second. They
also make it possible to control the bandwidth and form the spectrum in a flexible way. However, they require advanced
WiMax is using OFDMA in the downlink and in the uplink. For the next generation UMTS, OFDMA is used for the downlink. By
contrast, IFDMA is being considered for the uplink since OFDMA contributes more to the PAPR related issues and results in
nonlinear operation of amplifiers. IFDMA provides less power fluctuation and thus avoids amplifier issues. Similarly, MC-CDMA
is in the proposal for the IEEE 802.20 standard. These access schemes offer the same efficiencies as older technologies like
CDMA. Apart from this, scalability and higher data rates can be achieved.
The other important advantage of the above mentioned access techniques is that they require less complexity for equalization
at the receiver. This is an added advantage especially in the MIMOenvironments since the spatial multiplexing transmission of
In addition to improvements in these multiplexing systems, improved modulation techniques are being used. Whereas earlier
standards largely used Phase-shift keying, more efficient systems such as 64QAM are being proposed for use with the 3GPP
[edit]IPv6 support
Main articles: Network layer, Internet protocol, and IPv6
Unlike 3G, which is based on two parallel infrastructures consisting of circuit switched and packet switched network nodes
By the time that 4G is deployed, the process of IPv4 address exhaustion is expected to be in its final stages. Therefore, in the
context of 4G, IPv6 support is essential in order to support a large number of wireless-enabled devices. By increasing the
number of IP addresses, IPv6 removes the need for Network Address Translation (NAT), a method of sharing a limited number
of addresses among a larger group of devices, although NAT will still be required to communicate with devices that are on
existing IPv4 networks.
As of June 2009, Verizon has posted specifications that require any 4G devices on its network to support IPv6. [16]
Recently, multiple antenna technologies are emerging to achieve the goal of 4G systems such as high rate, high reliability, and
long range communications. In the early 1990s, to cater the growing data rate needs of data communication, many
transmission schemes were proposed. One technology, spatial multiplexing, gained importance for its bandwidth conservation
and power efficiency. Spatial multiplexing involves deploying multiple antennas at the transmitter and at the receiver.
Independent streams can then be transmitted simultaneously from all the antennas. This technology, called MIMO (as a branch
of intelligent antenna), multiplies the base data rate by (the smaller of) the number of transmit antennas or the number of
receive antennas. Apart from this, the reliability in transmitting high speed data in the fading channel can be improved by using
more antennas at the transmitter or at the receiver. This is called transmit or receive diversity. Both transmit/receive diversity
and transmit spatial multiplexing are categorized into the space-time coding techniques, which does not necessarily require the
channel knowledge at the transmitter. The other category is closed-loop multiple antenna technologies, which require channel
device will constitute various standards. This can be efficiently realized using SDR technology, which is categorized to the area
In 2002, the strategic vision for 4G — which ITU designated as IMT-Advanced — was laid out.
In June 2006, KT started the world's first commercial mobile WiMAX service in Seoul, South Korea. [1]
In mid-2006, Sprint Nextel announced that it would invest about US$5 billion in a WiMAX technology buildout over
the next few years[18] ($5.4 billion in real terms[19]). Since that time Sprint has faced many setbacks, that have resulted in
4x4 MIMO called VSF-OFCDM at 100 Mbit/s while moving, and 1 Gbit/s while stationary. NTT DoCoMo completed a trial
in which they reached a maximum packet transmission rate of approximately 5 Gbit/s in the downlink with 12x12 MIMO
using a 100 MHz frequency bandwidth while moving at 10 km/h,[20] and is planning on releasing the first commercial
network in 2010.
In September 2007, NTT Docomo demonstrated e-UTRA data rates of 200 Mbit/s with power consumption below
analog TV frequencies began. As a result, the biggest share of the spectrum went to Verizon Wireless and the next
February 15, 2008 - Skyworks Solutions released a front-end module for e-UTRAN.[24][25][26]
In April 2008, LG and Nortel demonstrated e-UTRA data rates of 50 Mbit/s while travelling at 110 km/h.[27]
calling for candidate Radio Access Technologies (RATs) for IMT-Advanced. [28]
April 2008, just after receiving the circular letter, the 3GPP organized a workshop on IMT-Advanced where it was
decided that LTE-Advanced, an evolution of current LTE standard, will meet or even exceed IMT-Advanced requirements
On 3 March 2009, Lithuanian's LRTC announcing the first operational "4G" mobile WiMAX network in Baltic states.[29]
In December 2009, Sprint began advertising "4G" service in selected cities in the United States, despite average
download speeds of only 3-6Mbps with peak speeds of 10Mbps (not available in all markets). [30]
On December 14, 2009, the first commercial LTE deployment was in the Scandinavian
brandname NetCom (Norway). TeliaSonera branded the network "4G". The modem devices on offer were manufactured
by Samsung (dongle GT-B3710), and the network infrastructure created byHuawei (in Oslo) and Ericsson (in Stockholm).
TeliaSonera plans to roll out nationwide LTE across Sweden, Norway and Finland [3][31]. TeliaSonera used spectral
bandwidth of 10 MHz, and single-in-single-out, which should provide physical layer net bitrates of up to 50 Mbit/s downlink
and 25 Mbit/s in the uplink. Introductory tests showed a TCP throughput of 42.8 Mbit/s downlink and 5.3 Mbit/s uplink in
Stockholm.[4]
[edit]Deployment plans
In May 2005, Digiweb, an Irish fixed and wireless broadband company, announced that they have received a mobile
communications license from the Irish Telecoms regulator, ComReg. This service will be issued the mobile code 088 in Ireland
and will be used for the provision of 4G Mobile communications.[34][35] Digiweb launched a mobile broadband network using
On September 20, 2007, Verizon Wireless announced that it plans a joint effort with the Vodafone Group to transition its
networks to the 4G standard LTE. On December 9, 2008, Verizon Wirelessannounced that they intend to build and begin to roll
out an LTE network by the end of 2009. Since then, Verizon Wireless has said that they will start their rollout by the end of
2010.
On July 7, 2008, South Korea announced plans to spend 60 billion won, or US$58,000,000, on developing 4G and even 5G
technologies, with the goal of having the highest mobile phone market share by 2012, and the hope of an international
standard.[36]
Telus and Bell Canada, the major Canadian cdmaOne and EV-DO carriers, have announced that they will be cooperating
towards building a fourth generation (4G) LTE wireless broadband network in Canada. As a transitional measure, they are
Sprint offers a 3G/4G connection plan, currently available in select cities in the United States. [38] It delivers rates up to 10 Mbit/s.
In the United Kingdom, Telefónica O2 is to use Slough as a guinea pig in testing the 4G network and has called
upon Huawei to install LTE technology in six masts across the town to allow people to talk to each other via HD video
Verizon Wireless has announced that it plans to augment its CDMA2000-based EV-DO 3G network in the United States with
LTE. AT&T, along with Verizon Wireless has chosen to migrate toward LTE from 2G/GSM and 3G/HSPA by 2011. [40]
The U.S. FCC is exploring the possibility of deployment and operation of a nationwide 4G public safety network which would
allow first responders to seamlessly communicate between agencies and across geographies, regardless of devices. In June
2010 the FCC released a comprehensive white paper which indicates that the 10 MHz of dedicated spectrum currently
allocated from the 700 MHzspectrum for public safety will provide adequate capacity and performance necessary for normal
[edit]Beyond 4G research
Main article: 5G
A major issue in 4G systems is to make the high bit rates available in a larger portion of the cell, especially to users in an
exposed position in between several basestations. In current research, this issue is addressed by macro-diversity techniques,
also known as group cooperative relay, and also by beam-division multiple access.[42]
Pervasive networks are an amorphous and at present entirely hypothetical concept where the user can be simultaneously
connected to several wireless access technologies and can seamlessly move between them (See vertical handoff, IEEE
802.21). These access technologies can be Wi-Fi, UMTS, EDGE, or any other future access technology. Included in this
concept is also smart-radio (also known as cognitive radio technology) to efficiently manage spectrum use and transmission
In September 2009 the technology proposals have been submitted to ITU-R as 4G candidates. [43] Basically all proposals are
First set of 3GPP requirements on LTE Advanced has been approved in June 2008.[44] LTE Advanced will be standardized in
2010 as part of the Release 10 of the 3GPP specification. LTE Advanced will be fully built on the existing LTE specification
Release 10 and not be defined as a new specification series. A summary of the technologies that have been studied as the
[edit]References
7. ^ Stefan Parkvall, Erik Dahlman, Anders Furuskär, Ylva Jading, Magnus Olsson, Stefan Wänstedt,
Kambiz Zangi, "LTE-Advanced – Evolving LTE towards IMT-Advanced", VTC 2008
12. ^ Sadia Hussain, Zara Hamid and Naveed S. Khattak (May 30–31, 2006). "Mobility Management
Challenges and Issues in 4G Heterogeneous Networks". ACM Proceedings of the first international
14. ^ Noah Schmitz (March 2005). "The Path To 4G Will Take Many Turns". Wireless Systems Design.
Retrieved 2007-03-26.
16. ^ Morr, Derek (2009-06-09). "Verizon mandates IPv6 support for next-gen cell phones". Retrieved 2009-
06-10.
17. ^ "KT Launches Commercial WiBro Services in Korea". WiMAX Forum. 2005-11-15. Retrieved 2010-06-
23.
26. ^ "Skyworks Introduces Industry's First Front-End Module for 3.9G Wireless Applications.". Skyworks
press release (Free with registration). 11 FEB 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
27. ^ Nortel and LG Electronics Demo LTE at CTIA and with High Vehicle Speeds :: Wireless-Watch
Community
28. ^ ITU-R Report M.2134, “Requirements related to technical performance for IMT-Advanced radio
interface(s),” November 2008.
29. ^ http://www.wimaxforum.org/news/837
30. ^ [2] Sprint nextel 4G coverage maps
31. ^ NetCom.no - NetCom 4G (in English)
32. ^ http://www.e24.ee/?id=229584
33. ^ МТS kompaniyasi O’zbekistonda 4G tarmog’i ishga tushirilishini e’lon qiladi (in Uzbek)
34. ^ Press Release: Digiweb Mobile Takes 088
35. ^ RTÉ News article: Ireland gets new mobile phone provider
36. ^ "Korea to Begin Developing 5G". unwiredview.com. 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
37. ^ TELUS (2008-10-10). "Next Generation Network Evolution". TELUS.
38. ^ http://nextelonline.nextel.com/en/stores/popups/4G_coverage_popup.shtml
39. ^ Neate, Rupert (2009-12-12). "Slough accepts the call to be 4G mobile phone trailblazer". The Daily
Telegraph. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
40. ^ "AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone to share same 4G network". Electronista. 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2010-04-
08.
41. ^ FCC White Paper. "The Public Safety Nationwide Interoperable Broadband Network, A New Model
For Capacity, Performance and Cost", June 2010.
42. ^ IT R&D program of MKE/IITA: 2008-F-004-01 “5G mobile communication systems based on beam-
division multiple access and relays with group cooperation”.
Brian Woerner (June 20–22, 2001). "Research Directions for Fourth Generation Wireless" (PDF). Proceedings of the
10th International Workshops on Enabling Technologies: Infrastructure for Collaborative Enterprises (WET ICE 01) .
Sajal Kumar Das, John Wiley & Sons (April 2010): "Mobile Handset Design", ISBN 978-0470824672
Suk Yu Hui; Kai Hau Yeung (December 2003). "Challenges in the migration to 4G mobile systems". Communications