The Future of Wireless Data Services

By Jack Hanington

Currently• AT&T and T-mobile use

HSDPA/UMTS technology for its 3G• Verizon and Sprint use EVDO for its

3G service

Clearwire Wimax 4G• Implementation of IEEE 802.16 wireless

networks• Wimax spectrum in the 2.3–2.5 GHz and the

3.4–3.5 GHz ranges• Alternative to cable and DSL for last mile

broadband access• Sprint in 2006 said that they would invest

$5 billion dollars in Wimax for their 4G network

Sprint 4G• Sprint currently only has their 4G network in

Baltimore Maryland. Average user speeds of 2-4 Mbps.

• Areas getting 4G by the end of 2009 Atlanta, Honolulu, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Portland, Fort Worth, and Seattle.

LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G

• Peak rates of at least 100 Mbps down, and at least 50 Mbps up.

• Adopters include Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile• AT&T will operate on the 704 MHz to 716 MHz• Verizon will operate on 777 MHz to 787 MHz