Deciding on the Best 4G Mobile Broadband Provider For You

There’s a lot of talk going on about the best 4G mobile broadband providers available, and which of them provide the best speeds for upload and download transfers. At present, three networks dominate the 4G market: WIMAX, LTE, and HSPA+.

Below is a more in-depth discussion of each service in order to better help you make the right choice for you and your needs:

WiMAX Network

At present, Sprint makes use of the WiMax network in order to provide 4G services to select locations. If Internet providers in your neighborhood are connected to its technology, your 4G Sprint phone will definitely function to its highest potential.

Sprint makes use of a 2.5GHz band with IEEE 802.16e specifications, which can theoretically provide you with download speeds of up to 128 Mbps. Of course, this is completely dependent on the Sprint network loads.

With Sprint’s 4G WiMAX network, average download speeds provided can reach up to 4 to 5 Mbps. If the WiMAX 4G service is not available in your location, however, you can still avail of Sprint’s 3G network with speeds of up to 3 Mbps.

LTE Technology

Long Term Evolution, or LTE, is a 4G network currently being used by Verizon. LTE theoretically provides users with upload speeds of 50 Mbps and download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. Of course, it is unlikely many mobile broadband customers will ever reach these speeds on their mobile phones as millions of users make use of the network bandwidth.

However, a number of public speed tests show that an LTE network can average download speeds as high as 30 Mbps depending on one’s location. One must make use of a 4G-compliant Verizon phone in order to experience such fast download speeds. Verizon aims to provide all users from the east coast to the west coast with complete 4G access.

HSPA+

AT&T currently uses HSPA+, or High Speed Packet Access, as its primary network for mobile broadband. Critics have expressed their skepticism, claiming that this system is essentially just a slightly upgraded version of its 3G network.

Another provider that currently uses HSPA+ is T-Mobile. Depending on network load and location, download speeds run between 2 to 7 Mpbs. While the upside of this service is its largest nationwide coverage from any provider, the downside is that AT&T and T-mobile may not be truly providing 4G services.

The Verdict

If you are looking for the fastest possible speeds, your best bet at the moment is Verizon and their LTE technology. If Verizon’s LTE is available in your area, a 4G phone should be able to maximize the network’s full potential.

Are WiMax and HSPA+ services also available in your area? Take into consideration that AT&T has future plans to provide LTE coverage throughout the nation. WiMax is an acceptable choice—but again, LTE greatly surpasses the average download speeds of all other networks.

A great resource for mobile broadband is comparison site Broadband Expert, where users can compare 3G and 4G internet plans. Internet use on the go is expected to rise tremendously by the end of this year. There are many options for mobile broadband, and comparing providers can save users lots in the end.