AlaskaComm Delays LTE Launch to Year-End; Verizon Now Breathing Down its Neck
Alaska 4G Wireless
AlaskaComm Delays LTE Launch to Year-End; Verizon Now Breathing Down its Neck
AlaskaComm has postponed the launch of its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network from May to the end of this year. The delay corresponds with reports saying that the carrier has started selling Apple’s iPhone from April which can only connect to a 3G network at present. Earlier in Jun 2011 AlaskaComm had said that it would be spending around $20 million in deploying LTE in the state making it the first carrier in Alaska to offer 4G services. Verizon, the largest Internet service provider in the US had meanwhile applied to acquiring 700MHz C Block spectrum license from Triad covering Alaska in August 2011 with the FCC. Triad had purchased this spectrum in an FCC sponsored spectrum auction in August 2010 for $1.8 million. At that time Verizon didn’t have any agenda for FTE deployment in Alaska and it did not want to dispute AlsakaComm’s claims of being the first LTE provider in the state.
With AlalskaComm’s LTE launch now delayed the situation has changed and in Mar 2012, Alaska’s Matanuska Telephone Association (MTA) announced that it has entered into an agreement with Verizon Wireless to participate in Verizon’s ‘LTE in Rural America’ program. As part of the agreement, Verizon will lease 700MHz upper C block wireless spectrum to MTA in Denali and Matanuska – Sustina Boroughs covering almost 34,000 square miles. With MTA’s participation in this scheme, its customers can access LTE in more than 230 cities in the US.
The story might still have a twist in the tale as last week Verizon revealed that it is in a process to start its own independent operations in Alaska and has started laying groundwork for it by leasing acreage for cell towers covering the south central and interior regions. Irrespective of its alliance with MTA, Verizon has indicated that it would like to enter the Alaskan market in 2013.
Categories: 3G, 4G, Alaska, Internet News, Verizon, Wireless Tags: Alaska, AlaskaComm, LTE, Verizon
AT&T Wins 4G Crown: WiMAX Worse Than 3G
AT&T Wins 4G Crown: WiMAX Worse Than 3G
AT&T Wins 4G Crown: WiMAX Worse Than 3G
In the latest survey published by PCWorld magazine last week, AT&T was then named as the best 4G carrier and T-Mobile USA the best 4G carrier beating rivals like Verizon and CenturyLink. The survey also highlighted that WiMAX was falling way behind its LTE rivals.
The survey found that amongst all wireless carriers AT&T had the best download speeds although Verizon’s LTE service did score better for upload speeds. In the 3G category, T- Mobile USA’s HSPA + 21 Mbps which in fact the carrier markets as 4G staved off stiff competition from its rivals.
T- Mobile USA’s HSPA + 42 Mbps fared surprisingly well against established 4G providers. The survey found out that the carrier’s plans were more transparent, cheaper and flexible as compared to other carriers surveyed.
Verizon was the first to offer LTE services but due to this download speeds with Verizon’s LTE are slower than AT&T which started its LTE service much later. 3G speeds aren’t showing any improvement compared to previous years with Verizon’s focus being primarily on increasing next gen coverage. That has helped the carrier in terms of service accessibility. Its 4G service is more accessible than its competitors.
WiMAX has started showing its age. It was the first to announce the 4G label but it fared even worse than its 3G service providing rivals in most cities covered under the survey.
PCWorld drew its conclusions from the survey with a suggestion for users who frequently download to check for coverage maps for Verizon and AT&T and opt for AT&T if they have coverage in their area as it has better download speeds than any internet service provider in the U.S. Uploaders can use Verizon’s service for its fast upload speed. In terms of cheap billing Internet subscribers can switch to T-Mobile USA which has more convenient billing plans.
Is a Wireless Internet Connection Right For You?
Wireless Internet Connection
Is a Wireless Internet Connection Right For You?
by Dan Karas
In the modern age of technology, most of us are using the Internet wherever we go. We use it at our homes, at our offices, at public places such as libraries, Internet cafes, and airports. However, the vast majority of people never think about how this Internet access they are using reaches their laptops, desktop computers, smartphones, tablet PC’s, PDA’s and so on. Well, today’s most commonly found and widely preferred type of Internet connection is a wireless Internet connection, or Wi-Fi.
Wireless Internet Connection Explained in Simple Terms
To put it simply, wireless Internet connection is a type of Internet access that doesn’t require a physical connection to your computer or any other device that will access the World Wide Web through this network. However, there must be a central device of some kind, which is responsible for retrieving the Internet access from the ISP, and sending it to other devices covered by the wireless network. This device uses radio waves to send the signal to other devices, while being connected physically to the source of Internet access. So, this basically means that you can turn your broadband Internet connection into wireless Internet connection, and this can in many cases be done only by contacting your Internet service provider and asking for the necessary equipment. They will be happy to provide you with everything you need for this, and sometimes even at no additional cost at all.
The Benefits of Wireless Internet Connection
Here are the most important benefits of having Wi-Fi available to you:
- Convenience – This is the most obvious benefit, as you can access the Internet from anywhere you want within the network range, as well as access it from any device that has a wireless adapter. What this means is that you can take your laptop and access the Internet from any room in your home, or even from the backyard.
- Security – Thanks to WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2, no one can access your network except you, as they will need a password for doing so. Also, all traffic that passes through Wi-Fi networks is encrypted, so there are few security issues to worry about here.
- Cost – Imagine what the cost of connecting all the computers in a big company would be if people had to do this with wires or cables. Even though this had to be done in the past, all of these devices can now be connected to the Internet wirelessly, which saves a lot of money and trouble.
- Speed – Speed used to be a real problem with Wi-Fi Internet access, but modern technology (WiMAX and EV-DO) has made it possible for wireless networks to enjoy large download speeds of up to 7 Mbps, or even more in some instances. If you connect your Cable modem or ADSL2+ Fiber Internet Gateway to a wireless N router you can download as fast as your Internet connection will allow, over 100 Mbps in some areas.
Should You Go For Wi-Fi?
Well, it really depends on your needs. If you are thinking about finding an ISP to provide you with Internet access for the first time, you should definitely ask if they are offering wireless Internet options. Even though you might be living alone and only have one laptop, you will still enjoy the convenience of being able to take your laptop wherever you want and surf the Internet. On the other hand, if you have a large family, Wi-Fi is a great idea as you will not need to lay down cables to every computer in the house. Be sure to check the usage limits, as most 3G and 4G providers have low monthly limits of 10 GB or less compared to cable and DSL limits of over 100 GB per month. If you use a lot of data, you are better off with a cable or DSL plan combined with a wireless router for home use and a separate mobile broadband plan if you need Internet access on the go.
Verizon Wireless Data Limit Changes
Verizon Limits Wireless Data Usage
Starting on July 7th 2011 Verizon Wireless will be limiting 3g and 4g Internet usage by switching to a tiered plan. Users can choose from three data packages; 2 gigs for $30 per month, 5 gigs for $50 per month, or 10 gigs for $80 per month. Users who go over the limits on their data package will be charged an additional $10 per gigabyte.
Some sources hint that Verizon’s motive for offering the unlimited data plans to their customers was to seem more appealing to AT&T customers due to the fact that AT&T switched to tiered data plans earlier last year. Verizon needed to make the switch before the release of the Iphone 5. With Verizon getting rid of their unlimited data plans that leaves only Sprint and T-Mobile who have yet to switch, which may seem appealing to disgruntled Verizon customers, but with T-Mobile’s planned merge with AT&T Sprint will likely switch to a tiered plan sometime this year.
The typical unlimited data plan for Verizon smart phones is around $30 per month, the same price as their new 2 gigabyte data plan. The Verizon customers who will be hit hardest are those who use their cell phones for business, including E-mailing and downloading large attachments. This is due to the fact that the largest plan Verizon will offer is $50 more expensive than the unlimited data plans most users have currently.
Categories: 3G, 4G, At&t, Mobile Broadband, Verizon Tags: Data Limits, Unlimited, Verizon, Wireless
3G vs 4G Mobile Broadband
3G vs 4G
3G vs 4G is a popular question that we have been receiving lately from visitor feedback at ISP 1. People want to know what the differences and advantages are between the newer 4G or fourth generation technology and the existing 3G third generation system.
The following video does an excellent job of explaining the differences between the various 3G – 4G Wireless Mobile Broadband technology. It will explain how we got to where we are today and what the future of wireless broadband looks like.
