What is LTE and why should I care?

There’s a new kind of 4G being deployed across Canada, but how is it different from the 4G technology that people already know about?

A rose by any other name is still a rose, so a 4G network by any other name must still be a 4G network. Well, not entirely. Since 2010, Canadian mobile phone owners have had access to “4G” thanks to HSPA+ networks deployed by the top mobile carriers like Bell, Rogers, and TELUS. That enabled speeds significantly faster than what was possible on 3G, so it seemed natural that people would call it 4G and easily understand the difference.

Things are a little more complicated now that those same networks are introducing 4G LTE services. Now when someone says “4G” in Canada, he or she may not be thinking the same thing as you. So what’s the difference between the two and why should anyone care?

4G LTE vs. 4G HSPA+

The differences in 4G technologies are most noticeable in speed, call quality, and the future. LTE, short for long-term evolution, is a more advanced technology that theoretically enables much faster download speeds. For instance, Bell and TELUS have reached peak speeds of 75 Megabits per second (mbps) on LTE, while Rogers advertises maximum theoretical speeds of 100 Mbps. Comparatively, HSPA+ can only reach 42 Mbps because of differences in ways that technology operate. There’s only so much engineering that HSPA+ allows to increase data speeds, so LTE has a much higher ceiling for what consumers can expect in the future.

The maximum speeds mentioned previously are theoretical, meaning the highest that LTE allows in its current state. But when factoring in phone or tablet power and network congestion, users can expect 12 to 25 Mbps on any LTE network in Canada. That’s almost twice as much as the top speeds on HSPA+, but not everyone may be impressed. They might say that if you can stream music and video in high quality, and web pages load quickly, the advantage for LTE may not be that noticeable. For comparison, a 300 MB video would download in 12 seconds on LTE; it would take almost 22 seconds on HSPA+ at top speeds. But as LTE networks are built and optimized in the future, the gap between the two will grow even greater. Remember that HSPA+ launched with only 21 Mbps top speeds, which have since doubled to 42 Mbps.

When and where can consumers access LTE?

Bell, Rogers, and TELUS all have 4G LTE service deployed in select metropolitan areas. Most of the major cities are supported, but rollout to rural areas will be slower. It’s important to note that just because a carrier advertises LTE in a city doesn’t mean the greater areas will also be served equally. Check your carrier for coverage maps.

Also keep in mind that you’ll need a new device to be able to access those networks. LTE requires a specific radio be present on a device, so an LTE-capable phone is necessary to access the faster speeds. The first wave of compatible phones includes the HTC Raider, LG Optimus 4G, and Samsung Galaxy Note and Galaxy S II LTE. Tablets include the HTC Jetstream and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE. The next iPhone and iPad are both widely expected to support LTE.

Where does LTE go from here?

The advantages of LTE over HSPA+ go beyond just download speeds. LTE creates opportunities for better network management by carriers, so users may see improved audio on phone calls, fewer dropped calls, and reaching those higher download speeds more often in the future. I received a demo of Voice over LTE, not yet a standard in Canada, and the difference in call quality was staggering. It was the sound equivalent of seeing an HD television for the first time.

There’s confusion around the “4G” term because ITU, the organization that sets communication standards, changed the definition of what can be considered 4G. Regardless of the definition, LTE clearly provides opportunities for better service now and in the future. Bell says it could reach theoretical speeds as high as 150 Mbps, meaning users could eventually see real-world average speeds of 24-50 Mbps. That is why customers should care about LTE. Consumers may not be ready to make the jump today, but the next time they upgrade to a new phone, LTE will offer a more optimal experience than users experienced in previous generations.