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by Sprint made huge strides in rolling out its fourth-generation (4G) wireless network in 2010, and capitalized on that by releasing both a kick-ass 4G phone, the HTC Evo, and a powerful Wi-Fi hotspot device, the Sprint Overdrive.
Both devices, plus Sprint’s network, provide enough bandwidth (3 megabits/second and up) that you can imagine dropping your wired broadband connection and going entirely wireless.
Expect the 4G battle to heat up in 2011, as Verizon and AT&T begin deploying their own, competing 4G technologies. T-Mobile is already touting its version of 4G, though most agree that it should really be called “3.5G,” as it’s based on older technology and offers slower speeds than the other two networks. Sprint delivers 3 Mbps download speeds in real-world tests, Verizon’s 4G delivers between 5 and 12 Mbps, and Consumer Reports has tested T-Mobile’s 4G speeds at about 1.5 Mbps.
These networks will be accompanied by a slew of 4G-compatible devices. Assuming that the networks are able to keep up with the demand (a big if, given the way the iPhone’s popularity overwhelmed AT&T’s 3G network ) 4G wireless could start to make significant dents in the market in 2011.
One big thundercloud on the horizon: The FCC’s new “net neutrality” rules, which provide some weak coverage against internet service providers’ desire to prioritize some traffic while slowing other data down, specifically exempt wireless carriers. That means that Sprint, Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless have far more latitude to restrict applications and data you can use on their networks than do, say, Comcast and Verizon’s wireline service.
If many people drop wireline service in favor of fast 4G wireless networks, they may come to rue that lack of wireless network neutrality rules.
Both devices, plus Sprint’s network, provide enough bandwidth (3 megabits/second and up) that you can imagine dropping your wired broadband connection and going entirely wireless.
Expect the 4G battle to heat up in 2011, as Verizon and AT&T begin deploying their own, competing 4G technologies. T-Mobile is already touting its version of 4G, though most agree that it should really be called “3.5G,” as it’s based on older technology and offers slower speeds than the other two networks. Sprint delivers 3 Mbps download speeds in real-world tests, Verizon’s 4G delivers between 5 and 12 Mbps, and Consumer Reports has tested T-Mobile’s 4G speeds at about 1.5 Mbps.
These networks will be accompanied by a slew of 4G-compatible devices. Assuming that the networks are able to keep up with the demand (a big if, given the way the iPhone’s popularity overwhelmed AT&T’s 3G network ) 4G wireless could start to make significant dents in the market in 2011.
One big thundercloud on the horizon: The FCC’s new “net neutrality” rules, which provide some weak coverage against internet service providers’ desire to prioritize some traffic while slowing other data down, specifically exempt wireless carriers. That means that Sprint, Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless have far more latitude to restrict applications and data you can use on their networks than do, say, Comcast and Verizon’s wireline service.
If many people drop wireline service in favor of fast 4G wireless networks, they may come to rue that lack of wireless network neutrality rules.
