Indian telecom operators are gearing up for the battle for supremacy in 4G LTE. Will the year 2016 will be the year of 4G in India is to be seen. This article explains what is 4G? Evolution of Mobile technology From 1G to 5G? Should You go for 4G? 4G Networks in India with 4G bands. Which 4G Mobile Phone should you buy? Comparison of 4G phones.

What is 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G?

G stands for a generation of mobile technology. Each “G” generally requires you to get a new phone, and for networks to make upgrades. 4G has just begun spreading on our smartphones and tablets, and we are already talking about the next generation, the 5G, the technology that will allow us to develop digital services, which were unthinkable up until now. 

Image below shows the various Generations 1G, 2G,3G , 4G and  compares 3G with 4G. To know more about the various generations of Mobile Technology please read the article 3G Vs 4G Vs LTE | Speed & Technology Difference

• 1G = analog. The  Analog cell phones was the first generation or 1G. It was used to send voice one way,
• 2G = digital, voice.  Digital phones were second generation . 2G was used for sending and receiving i.e 2way text and voice . Most 2G networks handled phone calls, basic text messaging, and small amounts of data over a protocol called MMS.
• 2.5G added data (GPRS). 2.5 G used GPRS and thus Data was also sent by this
• 2.75G faster data (EDGE)
• 3G = digital, supported data, packet switched (WCDMA, EvDO).    With the introduction of 3G connectivity, a number of larger data formats became much more accessible, including standard HTML pages, videos, and music. 3G basically for data, video along with audio.
• 3.5G faster data (HSPA)
• 4G = wireless broadband . 4G would be able to send any form of data
• 5G the new technology to be available by 2020.

The speed of sending data has increased with each generation with 4G boasting up of data transfer rate of above 100mbps . The next that separates all the generations is the frequency over which they work. For 1G its 150MhZ analog, from 2G onwards its digital, with 2 G operating at 900 and 1800MHz popularly known as bands, 3G working on above 2000MHz bands and 4G working at variable frequencies.

1G,2G,3G,4G,5G generations of mobile technology

What is 4G?

4G stands for the fourth generation of mobile cellular technology. The LTE technology (Long Term Evolution), and iLTE Advanced (LTE-A),  increase the performance of 4G mobile networks, sending and receiving data at a connection speed capable of competing with the speed of current domestic connections. Thanks to a growing network coverage and the increase in devices capable of supporting it, more smartphones and tablets can navigate and access the Cloud, streaming services and doing video conferences in high definition without slowdown or interruptions.  4G technologies include HSPA+ 21/42, the now obsolete WiMAX, and LTE. If you upload a lot of data – posting photos or videos, for instance ,you’ll find LTE’s upload speeds are far better than those on HSPA.  4G networks can theoretically provide speeds of up to 100 Mbps, though real-world tests yield download speeds of up to 40 Mbps, i.e. 1GB in 200 seconds.

4G LTE is a data-only networking technology, so it doesn’t natively support voice calls. While 3G and 2G were primarily designed with voice calls in mind and data was added to them.  As such it’s been necessary to create new protocols to support voice calling over 4G and it’s a big job, requiring upgrades across the entire voice call infrastructure. There’s no one standard for this, with different networks creating their own solutions. There are some common problems and solutions though, most notably the requirement for Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC), which simply means that the phone will be able to switch back to a 2G or 3G signal if you move out of a 4G signal zone during the call. Another option is to simply run the voice audio as data over the new LTE networks, a method that most companies have avoided, most likely because it takes away their power to easily charge for voice minutes. VoLTE stands for voice over LTE and it’s more or less exactly what it says . It’s voice calls over a 4G LTE network, rather than the 2G or 3G connections which are usually used.  Voice over LTE is basically what happens already when you make a Skype call or a Facetime Audio connection to another user, with higher-resolution audio and faster connection speeds.

Creating 4G connectivity requires two components: a network that can support the necessary speeds, and a device that is able to connect to that network and download information at high enough speed.

When compared to 3G, 4G offers greater bandwidth at a lower latency, with downloads quoted in the vicinity of 45Mbps. However, receiving those speeds is entirely reliant on network connectivity and congestion, which was a major issue during the 3G rollout. Carriers often saw a high amount of congestion on their networks, which meant that most customers never saw the claimed download speeds. This time around, carriers are looking to mitigate the issue of congestion by investing heavily in infrastructure.  Just like buying a car that can drive 100 km/hr doesn’t mean you can go that fast. Similarly because a phone has 4G LTE connectivity inside doesn’t mean you can get the speeds you want.

Compare 3G vs 4G

Should You  go for 4G?

With 2G still dominating our telecom industry and 3G connectivity hovering around 15%, where does 4G stand? Are telcos are more excited about 4G than consumers, despite the promise of more speed at the same price of 3G.

All three technologies,2G, 3G and 4G , will continue to coexist in India. By 2020, GSM Association expects around 50% subscribers to continue with 2G.

Subscribers in India can broadly divided into people who are happy with just a 2G plan, and  people who are ready to pay for higher speeds. When 3G started to pick its pace in the country, advertisements claimed “enjoy buffer-free YouTube on high speed mobile Internet.” From a consumer’s perspective, the claims are same but 4G has replaced 3G in writing and the ads have increased.   Even if people are ready to pay for higher speeds, are telcos in a position to promise consistency in services. So, even if users get excellent 4G speeds initially, The speeds are expected to fall as the number of 4G subscribers goes up. To avoid this, telcos will have to constantly upgrade their infrastructure. Or will it be 4G=3G=2G.

With Trai struggling to resolve the call drops issue, subscribers feel that if 2G cannot provide quality voice calls then 4G is nowhere close to it, given it is new. Most believe that call drops will only increase with 4G.

Most people feel 4G will simply increase their mobile bills. As apps constantly consume data with background activities, 4G will simple provide a better highway for them. Also, 4G will promote more gaming, streaming and video consumption among subscribers, accelerating data consumption.

• If your phone is mostly for voice use, you have no need for 4G data. Save money and save battery life by choosing a device without the high-speed network.
• If you live in an area that doesn’t have 4G coverage, there’s no advantage to a 4G phone. In fact, you’ll have serious battery life problems if you buy an LTE phone and don’t disable 4G LTE, as the radio’s search for a non-existent signal will drain your battery quickly.

4G Networks in India

4G services debuted first in India in 2012.  Indian 4G LTE network is distributed under different LTE frequency bands spectrum.  Indian telecom operators have received spectrum license to operate 4G LTE networks over following networks.  If you’re interested in purchasing a handset to access 4G connectivity, make sure the phone supports Bands 3, 5, and 40. Bands for various generations and

4G Bands

A key part of any mobile phone specification is its operating frequency bands. The supported frequency bands determine whether a certain handset is compatible with a certain network carrier. It’s not operator-specific and it’s helpful if you are choosing a handset to use in your home country or if you are making sure your phone will work in the country you are heading to.

• 2G capabilities : GSM 900, GSM 1800
• 3G capabilities : UMTS 900, UMTS 2100
• 4G capabilities :LTE 850 (5), LTE 1800 (3), LTE 2300 (40)
  • BAND 5 LTE FDD (850 Mhz),
  • BAND 3 LTE FDD (1800 Mhz), is primarily used for 4G coverage in India, as the spectrum was already in use during the 2G era. Carriers that offer 4G on Band 3 include Aircel, Airtel, Idea, Reliance Communications, Reliance Jio, Telenor, Vodafone, and Videocon.
  • BAND 40 LTE TDD (2300 Mhz) is the second frequency on which carriers offer 4G connectivity. The government had auctioned airwaves in this spectrum to Aircel, Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Tikona in 2010. Reliance’s pan-India network will primarily rely on the 2300MHz frequency for cellular coverage.
  • BAND 41 LTE TDD (2500 Mhz).

4G CIRCLES IN INDIA and the Telecom Operators

India’s 29 states and seven union territories are broken down into 22 telecom circles, which are largely defined by state boundaries. Moving between circles incurs roaming charges for calls and texts different telecom operators in India. Ref DataReign 4G Circles in India

 4G AirTel

Airtel was the first to offer 4G services in India all the way back in 2012. Dubbed the “widest 4G network” in India, Airtel is offering 4G in over 350 cities across 15 circles. Airtel also offers its own suite of music, movie, and game streaming apps on Android and iOS, dubbed Wynk. You can choose to subscribe to Wynk separately or buy a bundled plan that offers these services for free.To know more about getting your 4G SIM, head to Airtel’s microsite.

Reliance Jio

Reliance Jio has the most amount of liberalized spectrum among Indian carriers, with a nationwide license on the 2300MHz frequency, along with airwaves in the 1800MHz band and 10MHz spectrum in the 850MHz frequency that’s purchased from RCOM in ten circles.The carrier is looking to create an integrated 4G network that leverages all three frequencies to provide seamless connectivity. Reliance Jio was slated to launch its 4G network last year, but was met with constant delays. In December 2015, Reliance Jio commenced a soft launch where it made the service accessible to its 100,000 employees.

One of the key differentiators with Jio’s network is VoLTE, which allows for high-definition voice calls to be placed over the data network. Reliance is also looking to the upcoming 700MHz auction to bolster its voice-based offerings. Using a lower frequency band for VoLTE has significant cost benefits as it reduces the need to install a lot of base towers. Coverage on the 700MHz band is twice that of the 1800MHz band, and four times as much as what you get on the 2300MHz frequency.

Reliance Jio is also investing in its app ecosystem, and is slated to offer digital content services that include streaming music, video-on-demand, and a digital payments solution. Jio has a multi-service operator license, which allows it to introduce live TV as well as television-on-demand services on its network.

Idea

Idea uses the 1800MHz for 4G coverage, holding spectrum in ten key circles which culminate to over 60% of the carrier’s revenues: Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Goa, North East, Odisha, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu and Chennai. The carrier’s coverage indicator offers a city-wise breakdown of where the 4G service is available.

Vodofone

Vodafone has its 4G services available on the 1800MHz frequency in Kerala, Karnataka, Mumbai, Delhi & NCR, and Kolkata. The carrier is content with playing the waiting game and seeing the demand for 4G before investing in the remaining 17 circles. International roaming is available for Vodafone’s 4G customers when they travel abroad to the U.K., Romania, Spain, and the Netherlands.

BSNL

State-run BSNL is also getting into the action, and has announced that it will offer 4G in 14 circles. The network holds 20MHz liberalized broadband wireless access (BWA) spectrum in the 2500MHz band.

4G Mobile Phone

You need to buy 4G-enabled handsets if you want to use 4G. Since the high-speed data service runs on multiple frequencies, it would need a phone that can seamlessly function on multiple frequencies that are compatible with 4G network. For a full 4G experience, you would be better off if you buy future ready handsets that deliver these advantages. The important point to note is that most 4G phones currently available offer only data on 4G & fallback on 2G /3G for voice delivery. But a VOLTE enabled phone will allow voice calls through the data.If you’re looking to buy a 4G phone in India, look for Bands 3, 5, and 40

The 4G phone you buy must be purchased keeping the network operator in mind, as not all 4G phones will work in India.

4G phones have become quite affordable lately and You get features like up to 6 GB RAM, 16 MP Rear camera, 8 MP Front camera and 4G in phones available in this group. Currently more than 1000 4G Mobile Phones are available in the price range of Rs. 2499 to Rs. 74990. Lenovo Vibe K5 Note 4GB RAM, Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus, OnePlus 3 are the top 3 bestselling 4G mobiles in 2016.

Top 10 4G Mobiles	Prices
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 32GB	Rs. 11,999
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016)	Rs. 15,790
Lenovo Zuk Z1	Rs. 13,499
Lenovo Vibe K5 (Grey, 16GB)	Rs. 13,499
Lenovo Vibe K5	Rs. 7,999
Lenovo K4 Note	Rs. 11,499
LeEco Le 2	Rs. 11,999
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 16GB	Rs. 9,999
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus	Rs. 7,999

Compare 4G Mobiles

Comparison of few 4G Mobiles is given below

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Do you think 4G will pick up in India? Do you think Reliance Jio will shake the telecom market? Have you moved to 4G phone? If yes which one would you recommend.