4 ms·

At least in terms of its effects on network speed, latency and reliability to mobile devices, I don't expect 5G to deliver anything like the hype it's getting.

At least in terms of its effects on network speed, latency and reliability to mobile devices, I don't expect 5G to deliver anything like the hype it's getting. Having witnessed the roll-out of 2G, 3G and 4G over the last 15 years in the UK, with each one being as disappointing, over-promised and patchy as the one before it, I'm hoping to be surprised. But I'm not holding my breath. I have a phone that has been downgraded to 3G only because my provider's 4G is actually slower.

raesene6 10y ago
The rollouts in the UK have been particularly dispiriting as the coverage doesn't seem to ever catch up (or indeed move at all) in rural areas. You can be pretty close in to large cities in scotland and struggle for 2G coverage let alone anything faster..
kbart 10y ago
UK is infamous for its overcrowded networks and sloppy telecoms, so that's not a problem of the technology itself. I have seen better Internet/cell networks in some 3rd world countries than UK.. In my country, there's a pretty big difference between 3G and 4G (and currently used 4.5G), where ~350 Mbps is an actual speed.
- Symbiote 10y ago
  English people are infamous for grumbling... Akamai's State of the Internet, released yesterday, puts the UK in the lead for mobile data speeds with an average speed of 28Mb/s, followed by Belgium, with 19Mb/s. http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/29/12056760/uk-fastest-mobile-internet-us-lags-behind-akamai-report http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/29/12056760/uk-fastest-mobile... https://www.akamai.com/us/en/our-thinking/state-of-the-internet-report/ https://www.akamai.com/us/en/our-thinking/state-of-the-inter... (Downloading requires an email, but it wasn't verified.)
  - kbart 10y ago
    Somewhat strange methodology is used there: "speeds can be altered by mobile networks' use of proxies, meaning that the speeds recorded will be between those proxies and Akamai's servers, rather than between the servers and the actual mobile devices themselves." For users end mile usually matters the most and this table doesn't count for that, so it doesn't reflect the actual user experience. Sounds more like PR stuff than an actual test.
- vardump 10y ago
  > 4G (and currently used 4.5G), where ~350 Mbps is an actual speed. Exactly. Well implemented 4G provides easily 150 Mbps+ actual sustained speeds. It's amazing what some true competition between carriers can do...
tomw2005 10y ago
Outside of rural areas I have found 4G to be exceptional in the UK. It is true that I have lived and worked in Manchester and London since 4G came out but it is consistently faster than any wireless option going. Which provider are you using? I've been on Orange then EE throughout the rollout
- tomw2005 10y ago
  Just ran a speed test on my phone and received 25.2 Mbps down. That is nearly 4x the maximum 3G is normally sold at. There is a good comparison of providers here: http://www.rootmetrics.com/uk/blog/special-reports/4g-in-the-uk-fast-speeds-and-expanding-footprints http://www.rootmetrics.com/uk/blog/special-reports/4g-in-the...
SixSigma 10y ago
4G in my UK house goes from 8Mbps to 8bps. My provider has changed my tethering contract from 1000Gb to 4Gb per month for the same price - no options but take it or leave it. So now I "need" wired data to use my computer, which is 2x the price of my phone contract. sigh

raesene6 10y ago

The rollouts in the UK have been particularly dispiriting as the coverage doesn't seem to ever catch up (or indeed move at all) in rural areas. You can be pretty close in to large cities in scotland and struggle for 2G coverage let alone anything faster..

kbart 10y ago

UK is infamous for its overcrowded networks and sloppy telecoms, so that's not a problem of the technology itself. I have seen better Internet/cell networks in some 3rd world countries than UK.. In my country, there's a pretty big difference between 3G and 4G (and currently used 4.5G), where ~350 Mbps is an actual speed.

Symbiote 10y ago
English people are infamous for grumbling... Akamai's State of the Internet, released yesterday, puts the UK in the lead for mobile data speeds with an average speed of 28Mb/s, followed by Belgium, with 19Mb/s. http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/29/12056760/uk-fastest-mobile-internet-us-lags-behind-akamai-report http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/29/12056760/uk-fastest-mobile... https://www.akamai.com/us/en/our-thinking/state-of-the-internet-report/ https://www.akamai.com/us/en/our-thinking/state-of-the-inter... (Downloading requires an email, but it wasn't verified.)
- kbart 10y ago
  Somewhat strange methodology is used there: "speeds can be altered by mobile networks' use of proxies, meaning that the speeds recorded will be between those proxies and Akamai's servers, rather than between the servers and the actual mobile devices themselves." For users end mile usually matters the most and this table doesn't count for that, so it doesn't reflect the actual user experience. Sounds more like PR stuff than an actual test.
vardump 10y ago
> 4G (and currently used 4.5G), where ~350 Mbps is an actual speed. Exactly. Well implemented 4G provides easily 150 Mbps+ actual sustained speeds. It's amazing what some true competition between carriers can do...

tomw2005 10y ago

Outside of rural areas I have found 4G to be exceptional in the UK. It is true that I have lived and worked in Manchester and London since 4G came out but it is consistently faster than any wireless option going. Which provider are you using? I've been on Orange then EE throughout the rollout

tomw2005 10y ago
Just ran a speed test on my phone and received 25.2 Mbps down. That is nearly 4x the maximum 3G is normally sold at. There is a good comparison of providers here: http://www.rootmetrics.com/uk/blog/special-reports/4g-in-the-uk-fast-speeds-and-expanding-footprints http://www.rootmetrics.com/uk/blog/special-reports/4g-in-the...

SixSigma 10y ago

4G in my UK house goes from 8Mbps to 8bps. My provider has changed my tethering contract from 1000Gb to 4Gb per month for the same price - no options but take it or leave it. So now I "need" wired data to use my computer, which is 2x the price of my phone contract. sigh