Although not strictly an EMC standard, the efficacy of this new 4G specification will determine the quality of WiFi communications in an ever more crowded spectrum. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project, or 3GPP, has settled on the final specification for the upcoming fourth generation (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) for WiFi, which is expected to form the backbone of mobile Internet access in the U.S. and across Europe. In its final form, 4G cellular technology will rely on the same basic multiple-input, multiple-output antenna concept as that of pieces together 802.11n, but offer improved bandwidth surpassing the current 3G technology. The LTE spec pieces together multiple signals to achieve a download rate as high as 326 megabits/s. Uploads on a swath of 20 MHz of spectrum peak at 86 MHz. The new spec cuts latency down to 10 milliseconds between tower and user-thus enabling time-dependant activities such as video calls or games. One of the 3G partners, ETSI has more information on its website. Emerging technologies necessitate new standards. Learn more about current issues and questions by visiting the Testing Community Forums.
The 3G Group Finalizes 4G Specification
