4 ms·

This article is seriously flawed. Yes, 4G transmission is more efficient for the allotted wireless spectrum, but users are guaranteed to be using more bandwidth

by dankoss 12y ago

This article is seriously flawed. Yes, 4G transmission is more efficient for the allotted wireless spectrum, but users are guaranteed to be using more bandwidth, so the effective number of users per tower stays the same or decreases. And it costs more, not less for 4G rollouts.

acdha 12y ago
If users are on the same limited plans they're not using more bandwidth over any appreciable time scale.
- dankoss 12y ago
  I'm not talking about data use, I'm talking about instantaneous data rate. Base stations are designed to handle a particular maximum throughput for a given number of users relative to the available spectrum in that area. The maximum throughput needed for many users on a 4G tower will be much higher than it is for 3G, it isn't the same or less.
  - acdha 12y ago
    Again, this is only true on very short time intervals. If you're an AT&T user throttled after 2GB per month you simply aren't going to be using 4G speed for more than a single coffee break per month. In the real world, of course, people rarely download data endlessly and so the main difference is that a 4G user will use data at a higher rate for a shorter period of time since they're downloading the same YouTube video as the 3G user. Since 4G takes considerably less time to establish connections than 3G, this trend is even more favorable to network operators since more phones can go from passive to active and back in any given time interval.
freefrog334433 12y ago
Each tower supports more voice channels, and given than voice has higher priority than data and most people use mobile phones for calling, then each tower does support more subscribers. In Cambodia, prices have been dropping - 3.5GB on 3.75/4G networks costs $5/month. The competition between mobile companies is intense, and Cambodia seems to be leading

4 ms·

This article is seriously flawed. Yes, 4G transmission is more efficient for the allotted wireless spectrum, but users are guaranteed to be using more bandwidth

by dankoss 12y ago

acdha 12y ago
If users are on the same limited plans they're not using more bandwidth over any appreciable time scale.
- dankoss 12y ago
  I'm not talking about data use, I'm talking about instantaneous data rate. Base stations are designed to handle a particular maximum throughput for a given number of users relative to the available spectrum in that area. The maximum throughput needed for many users on a 4G tower will be much higher than it is for 3G, it isn't the same or less.
  - acdha 12y ago
    Again, this is only true on very short time intervals. If you're an AT&T user throttled after 2GB per month you simply aren't going to be using 4G speed for more than a single coffee break per month. In the real world, of course, people rarely download data endlessly and so the main difference is that a 4G user will use data at a higher rate for a shorter period of time since they're downloading the same YouTube video as the 3G user. Since 4G takes considerably less time to establish connections than 3G, this trend is even more favorable to network operators since more phones can go from passive to active and back in any given time interval.
freefrog334433 12y ago
Each tower supports more voice channels, and given than voice has higher priority than data and most people use mobile phones for calling, then each tower does support more subscribers. In Cambodia, prices have been dropping - 3.5GB on 3.75/4G networks costs $5/month. The competition between mobile companies is intense, and Cambodia seems to be leading