14827 How to choose a smartphone with LTE

How to choose a smartphone with LTE



Everyone who bought a smartphone over the border, could face a brand new and fully functional gadget for some reason refuses to function in Russian networks 4G. The problem is that fourth generation networks are built in a variety of frequency ranges. A device, generally produced under a particular set of ranges, and not under any of the possible ranges and combinations thereof. To not regret buying, you need to understand some technological details, and we will try to help you with this.

Speaking about choosing the right smartphone, this time we don’t mean the platform on which it is assembled, the features of the operating system or the camera. Focus on the parameters that ensure the best operation of your machine in the networks 4G/LTE. This is especially important for everyone who actively uses the mobile Internet. The user experience on LTE is usually markedly different from the user experience in 3G network, even in the variant HSPA+. Simply put, if you are in the coverage area of LTE coverage, as the gadget supports the current transfer modes, you have what is called “all the flies”. But what specs are important for achieving the maximum speed — read the article.

Frequency LTE: bands and why are they important?

Why need to bother, because we do not choose a smartphone by features of their work with 3G? It’s simple. For 3G/WCDMA in the world fixed frequency band in the range of 2100 MHz. Because these frequencies are not enough, in some places 3G is also used for the 900 MHz range. In most cases, any modern device supports 3G in both these ranges. “Pure” 3G is now not used anywhere, so the smartphone should also understand such “extensions” technologies, such as HSPA and HSPA+ accelerates mobile Internet. Often, new devices support these technologies.

Another thing with LTE. This standard was originally meant for the possibility of building networks and mobile Internet in a variety of frequency ranges. In the world they used more than a dozen, and in different countries different combinations of frequencies. Still not every provider supports the same set of ranges even within one country. In Russia the set of used frequency bands LTE is not so great. However, buying a smartphone abroad (e.g. online store), you can go without 4G because of the incompatibility of the purchased apparatus with one or another of our network.

That this did not happen, it is advisable to choose a gadget based on what frequency your provider supports LTE in your area. The situation changed over time, operators get new frequencies, so think about compatibility whenever you buy a new device.

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Как правильно выбрать смартфон с LTEThe distribution of frequencies in Moscow (source PicoCell)

Today in Russia the operators of the “big four” have LTE networks in the following major bands: 1800 MHz (b3), 2.5-2.7 GHz (b7), 800 MHz (b20). Letter b c number in parentheses is the “band”, the name of the range according to the classification of the international group 3GPP, is involved in the standardization of LTE. These ranges are used to organize networks FDD LTE with the so-called frequency-division multiplexing, when the incoming and outgoing data streams are at different frequencies. There is also a TDD technology with time-division duplexing: when inbound and outbound data streams alternately chase between the device and the network using the same frequency band. In Russia, this technology is also used. Used for ranges of 2.5-2.6 GHz (b38).

Как правильно выбрать смартфон с LTE5 OnePlus — a smartphone that supports the bands b1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/66

Summary: what frequency is needed in Russia. Ideally, your smartphone must support the bands b3 and b7 is the basis for the mobile Internet. Desirable range b20: there are places where he’s the only way to access LTE. As for the b38, it can be compared to the icing on the cake — to live without it, but as the decoration will not interfere.

CAT: the higher, the faster

Much more important is another aspect that should pay attention when choosing a new camera. Today LTE networks often support the work of smartphones in several frequency bands simultaneously. Called this mode of operation is an aggregation of the frequencies (LTE-A). Driving data in several frequency ranges, it is possible to achieve higher speeds of downloading and information transfer. However, in order for this scheme to work, you need to meet several conditions. At the point where you are now, there should be a coating in several frequency bands of LTE, the equipment operator must be configured to work with devices that support LTE-A and your smartphone to support LTE-A, and it is those combinations of frequencies offered by the operator. Sounds extremely hard? In fact, thinking about it only at the time of purchase of the device.

And here is another feature you should pay attention. We are talking about the so-called category of the device. Usually it is marked a one or two digit number from 0 to 17. Until recently it was believed that support smartphone Cat.3 is enough for the use of LTE services in Russia. Today, the bar for “enough” rose up to Cat.4 (theoretically supports speeds up to 150 Mbps), but for fans of the faster Internet should recommend devices with support for the regime of aggregation of frequencies that corresponds to the category Cat.6. (up to 300 Mbit/c). The number in parenthesis is the so-called peak rate. Download data with such speeds in real life does not work, but high peak rates, as a rule, result in higher average speeds downloading information.

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Categories of devices and data transfer speed

Category subscriber units

The maximum data download speed, Mbit/c

Support aggregation load-bearing.

Cat.4

150

1×20

Cat.6

300

2×20

Cat.9

450

3×20

Cat.12

600

3×20*

* great speed in the same band is achieved through the use of additional technological tricks (4×4 MIMO and 256QAM).

In the coming years the development of communications networks will be fragmented somewhere to begin implementation of 5G, but LTE will be with us for a long time and will improve as smartphones.

Как правильно выбрать смартфон с LTE Как правильно выбрать смартфон с LTE

Samsung Galaxy S8+ and Sony Xperia XZ Premium are devices Cat.16, however, the networks supporting them at maximum speed in Russia yet

Summary: what categories are needed in Russia. Today in Russia, LTE-A is not everywhere, but gradually the support for this regime covers all large areas, so we recommend you purchase devices that support LTE-A Cat.4, and Cat.6. If you live in Moscow and St. Petersburg, have a Megaphone and would like to obtain from the network the maximum possible, then you can take the device with Cat.9 or the Cat.12. This smartphone will delight you and abroad — in some countries, network Cat.12 is already running.

The width: the wider, the better and faster

Another important rule: the wider the frequency band, which is the operator in a particular range, the more quality service you can count on. That is, in a network with a bandwidth of 5 MHz, the average speed is often less than in a network with a bandwidth of 20 MHz. It also depends on the number of users — the more, the average speed is less. There is a dependence even of tariff plans — if they include large packages of traffic per month, then the average speed has to be smaller than in the empty network with a narrow band. In the regions the situation with the frequency often varies even in one and the same operator (especially 1800 MHz band).

The width of the frequency bands of the operators

 

B20, 800 MHz

B3, 1800 MHz

B7, 2.5-2.7 GHz

B38, The 2.5-2.6 GHz

MTS

5 MHz

up to 25 MHz

10 MHz

20 MHz

“MegaFon”

5 MHz

to 30 MHz

40 MHz

25 MHz

VimpelCom

5 MHz

to 20 MHz

10 MHz

no

Tele2

5 MHz

to 15 MHz

10 MHz

no

* in different localities of the frequency range involved with different bands or not used for LTE at all.

Summary: overall this plate reflects the even average temperature in the hospital, but rather a “spherical horse in a vacuum” because in every village, even in each district of the city the situation is characterized by its own set of used for LTE frequency bands. Before buying a unit a good idea to check with your carrier what frequency bands the LTE network works in your city or locality. It should also be remembered that the final speed is affected by other factors: weather conditions, network congestion at the moment, the limitations of your tariff plan.

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What to prepare for overseas travel?

When traveling in other countries you can encounter exotic options implementation of LTE networks. Machines that would work in any LTE network in the world, almost non-existent, but don’t worry — it just so happens that Russia is involved in the most popular frequency bands of LTE. In most cases, being in a different country, you will still be able to use the LTE from your device. And yet, in order not to get in trouble, it is better to ask in advance, what ranges works a roaming network.

Practice: define the LTE capabilities of the phone

Как правильно выбрать смартфон с LTE

Consider the choice of a smartphone for example is popular in the market old Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro. The device supports any GSM bands. He will thrive in Russia and in 3G networks. In the Taiwan version, you can see all of our main bands LTE b3, b7, b20. Not only b38, Yes it is possible not to worry. In the global version the situation is slightly worse: there are b3, b7 and no support for b20, although there are b38. Will it be you to strain? In real life — no, if you have certainly not set out to “squeeze” out of operator networks all that is possible. We also note the support apparatus Cat.6 is good.

Three facts about the 4G networks in Russia

Modern exotic 1: SkyLink. In Russia for LTE, so a range of 450 MHz (b31) — the operator under the Tele2 brand SkyLink. The exotic number of countries where this range is used for LTE, are still less than ten. In popular models of smartphones support this range you will not find, so in practice, when selecting the unit, it is possible not to remember.

Modern exotic 2: “Vainakh Telecom”. Not less exotic range of 2300 MHz (b40). For him, machines are, but if you don’t plan to become a network subscriber “Vainakh Telecom” in the Chechen Republic, support this range you do not need.

Ranges of the future. You have to understand that LTE will continue to evolve, the current status quo — is not final. Operators in the future will be to use all new frequency bands. Among likely candidates for use in Russia, such as 2100 MHz (b1) and 900 MHz (b8). While they are busy with 3G or GSM. Is it possible now to take the smartphone with support for these bands? Do not think: it may take many months or even years before they are included under LTE.

Author: Alexei Boiko

Source: 4pda.ru

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