[LINK] "3G" or "4G," wireless networks are still slow

[Kim Holburn]

Wireless tries to catch up?  Australia tries to catch up?

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/02/the-wireless-generation-gap-america-in-the-slow-lane.ars

> Call it "3G" or "4G," America's wireless networks are still slow
> 
> By James Losey and Chiehyu Li
>        
> If you've followed broadband discussions in Washington, DC, then you've heard that wireless is the future of communications. The National Broadband Plan offers wireless as the competitive solution to the broadband duopoly dilemma, and in the recently released White House Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative, President Obama reiterated his State of the Union commitment to helping "extend next-generation wireless services to at least 98% of Americans."
> 
> If you watch TV, you might think this is a good thing. The whole country is moving to 4G—next generation wireless—and according to some carriers, this is our chance to beat the world in broadband. For Obama, it's a chance to Win the Future.
> 
> It will certainly help us win a future—but if this, as Obama said, is our "Sputnik moment," we are not reaching for the moon. 

.....

> That's not to say wireless speeds in the United States aren't improving; indeed, they are beginning to match the speeds of lower-end broadband connections. Verizon, claiming the "Fastest, most advanced 4G network in America," is rolling out LTE offering up to 5-12 Mbps download speeds. AT&T also claims the title of "Fastest mobile broadband network" with two layers of HSPA+ and LTE. Sprint's WiMAX network is slightly slower at 3-6 Mbps. T-Mobile has focused on HSPA+, claiming peaks of 21Mbps, although speeds realized by users are considerably slower and T-Mobile is pushing for the claim of largest, not fastest, network.
> 
> While these speeds do bring next-generation mobile broadband up to the standard of wireline broadband connections, the FCC found that the average wired broadband speed is between 3 and 4 Mbps. Our past research has shown that broadband in the United States is slower and pricier than service in other developed countries. This gap in speeds persists with the move to 4G wireless broadband.
> 
> For example, TeliaSonera rolled out LTE services in major Nordic and Baltic countries including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway and Sweden last year with speeds that blow US 4G offerings out of the water: "In normal circumstances, the average download speed is 20-80 Mbit/s." German mobile provider Vodafone is offering LTE service with 7Mbps speeds on the low end while also offering downloads up to 50Mbps on more expensive plans.
> 
> Asian countries have made great progress in launching 4G services since 2006, including LTE and WiMAX in Japan and Taiwan. NTT DoCoMo, a Japanese major mobile service provider, launched an LTE mobile data communication service called "Xi" in November 2010. In its coverage area of five major cities, Xi boasts maximum downlink speeds of 37Mbps.
> 
> Taiwan is also ahead of the US in 4G speeds. Mobile provider VMAX began WiMax service offering a maximum speed of 16Mbps down and 4Mbps up in Taipei City.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/15/3138857.htm

> Telstra to unveil wireless broadband upgrade
> 
> Posted 2 hours 7 minutes ago
> 
> Telstra is today unveiling a significant upgrade to its wireless internet services, which could put it in direct competition with the National Broadband Network (NBN).
> 
> Telstra says it will boost speeds on its wireless internet service by rolling out wireless broadband 4G technology this year.
> 
> The telco's announcement comes on the back of a new report from corporate consultants Greenhill Caliburn on the NBN.
> 
> It warns a trend toward mobile networks could draw away customers who are prepared to sacrifice speed for greater flexibility.
> 
> The Federal Opposition's telecommunications spokesman, Malcolm Turnbull, says it further undermines the case for building the $36 billion project.
> 
> "It certainly is less likely to be financially viable. The NBN business case assumes the penetration of wireless broadband is not going to continue," he said.
> 
> "The problem of course is that wireless broadband is improving as well."
> 
> "Wireless broadband is moving into a new generation which will deliver speeds comparable to fast broadband fixed-lines speeds - faster in fact than the fixed-line speed we are getting at the moment in Australia - and of course it has the added and very considerable convenience of mobility."




-- 
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
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