Fourth-Generation Mobile Networks

In recent years, there has been a push towards introducing 4G technology.

In the UK, we have one network currently offering 4G LTE (Everything Everywhere, a merger of T-Mobile United Kingdom and Orange Telecoms), in eleven major cities. It has had issues with coverage within those cities, only extending no further than city centres.

Our other major networks (Vodafone UK, Three, and O2 Telefonica) are going to launch 4G in March, after the Office for Communications ruled that 4G-EE being launched early was not bad for competition.

So, how will fourth-generation networks impact, and should its coverage be extended and eventually replace 3G?

As someone who still has the older style cell phones (simple call, text, a few tools with clunky options), I am not very familiar with these new phones. I plan to get a newer generation phone next month. So can someone explain what's special about 4G?

It's faster than 3G.

I can remember when mobile networks were much spottier than they are today, and I can remember when 3G was non-existent outside of large cities. 4G is simply in the process of being rolled out, when it is done it'll be as ubiquitous as 3G.