Next generation internet in Bangladesh...

What are 4G, LTE and WiMax?

4G is a mobile communications medium which was designed to replace 3G as it is an

upgraded version of the latter. It allows internet access at a much higher speed. The
technology was originally envisioned by the Defense Advanced Research Projects
(DARPA) who believed that every mobile device could become both a transceiver and a
router for other devices.

In other words, 4G is the fourth generation of broadband cellular network which is the
latest system of its kind. The network must conform to the capabilities which have been
defined by ITU and IMT advanced.

Current as well as future applications of 4G includes IT telephony, amended mobile

access, gaming services, video conferencing, HD mobile TV and 3D television.
Long Term Evolution (LTE) developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
is also a standard for high speed wireless communication for mobile devices and data
terminals, based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA technologies.

Although LTE is now regarded to be a 4G technology because of its upgrades, it was

initially marketed as 4G LTE. When first commercially released in Oslo, Norway and
Stockholm, Sweden in 2009, it did not meet the technical criteria of 4G wireless service
requirements which were set by the ITU-R organization's IMT Advanced specification.
However, after numerous upgrades to the system, the upgraded framework known as
LTE Advanced is accepted to be a True 4G network, alongside WiMaX.
WiMAX is an OFDMA-based, all-IP, data-centric technology ideal for use in delivering
mobile 4G services. WiMAX is currently being used by operators across the world
precisely for this purpose. WiMAX standards were officially specified in IEEE 802.16
series and there are currently various versions of WiMax. Most popular among them are
fixed WiMaX(16d), mobile WiMaX(16e) and WiMaX advanced(16m).

What is the ITU?

Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) is one of the three sectors (divisions or units) of the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and is responsible for
radiocommunication. Its role is to manage the international radio-frequency spectrum and
satellite orbit resources and to develop standards for radiocommunication systems with
the objective of ensuring the effective use of the spectrum.[1]
Key Technologies used in all 4G networks
The physical layer transmission techniques employ MIMO to achieve ultra-high spectral
efficiency. To exploit the frequency selective channel property without complex
equalization it uses frequency-domain-equalization. Frequency-domain statistical
multiplexing (such as OFDMA) is used to vary bit rate by assigning different sub-
channels to different users based on the channel conditions. Lastly, turbo principle error-
correcting codes are employed to minimise the required SNR at the reception side.
Apart from the above, channel-dependent scheduling, link adaptation and mobile IP are
also used alongside IP-based femtocells. 4G also possesses advanced antenna systems
compatibility and are quickly adapting to multiple antenna technologies.
Another noteworthy point is that the 4G infrastructure is based only on packet switch
network nodes only due to which it is able to thrive on low-latency data transmission. It
lacks the other infrastructural component called circuit switched network nodes.

Similarities between 4G WiMaX and LTE Advanced:

Both of them are IP technologies. WiMaX and LTE use similar modulation technology
based on OFDM- orthogonal frequency multiplexing. Lastly, they both support advanced
MIMO - multiple input and multiple output antenna technology.

Zero difference between 4G/LTE and BWA licenses in Bangladesh

It has been clearly mentioned in the ITU Document regarding BWA (ITU-R M.1801-2,
02/2013) that BWA is a composition of services, to be served by 8 Technologies,
including LTE and WiMAX. As a result, all of the services listed below have the same
licenses:
1. Broadband Radio Local Area networks
2. IMT-2000 Terrestrial Radio Interfaces
3. IMT-Advanced Terrestrial Radio Interfaces (which is actually LTE Advanced)
4. Harmonized IEEE and ETSI Radio Interface Standards, for Broadband wireless access
(BWA) systems including Mobile and Nomadic Applications in the mobile service
(includes, IEEE Std 802.16-2009, which is WiMAX)
5. ATIS WTSC radio interface standards for BWA Systems in the mobile services
6. "eXtended Global Platform: XGP" for broadband wireless access (BWA) Systems in
the mobile services
7. IEEE 802.20: Standard air interface for mobile broadband wireless access supporting
vehicular mobility
8. Air interface of SCDMA broadband wireless access system standard.