What's the point of 4G?

GooliesOfFire

Two years ago I bought a phone with contract and 3GB internet data / month (unlimited for browsing the net).

Now most of the all available contracts seem to offer 1.5GB or below. Makes me wonder what the point in having faster 4G mobile internet is if you cannot use it

Or am I missing something?

iamsporticus

I am not aware anyone has released details of 4G price plans or data allowances yet

GooliesOfFire

Because they haven't.. I'm just talking about the general downward tendency.

Do you expect the 4G contracts / price plans will offer more?

Cisco001

I don't care the limit. But 3G are slow to me

jayme1

I expect LTE to offer much more in the way of download limits, the bandwidth it can accommodate is so much more than 3G can now.

there is already some LTE/4G threads which you may want to read there is more to LTE than the 'more speed' that Jane and Joe consumer will be sold.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4181923
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4172285

I expect the lowest data cap for LTE going forward to be at least 5GB, they are expecting LTE to be used as a land line broadband replacement in rural areas so the data caps have to be in line with the broadband counterparts.

GooliesOfFire

jayme1@ thanks for the links.. looks like I'm not the only one who is skeptical about all this hype with 4G.

jayme1

As I say there is more reson to LTE than just more speed, way back when 3G first came out people were saying 'what's the point' '2G is good enough 'http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4369343.stm (we used to pay £4 per MB back then)
Now look at it you wouldn't even touch a phone without 3G and that is why LTE is needed, LTE is just the next step in the chain we need more bandwidth and LTE provides it.

Prices may be a little higher (but I doubt by much because the networks do actually want people to move to LTE) and they will certainly come down when networks other than EE have LTE, the handsets also won't cost more than smartphones do now, so come one to two years from today a lot of people will be using LTE as a matter of due course (because their phone upgrade supports it) and they will not give it a second thought.

thor

I made the same point as the op here a week or two ago and am still sceptical about limits being raised significantly compared to today's 3G limit. Of course I have no evidence to base this feeling on but it is just that I can't put it past the networks to try and pull a fast one on their customers.

Neil49

Look beyond 4G for mobile phones and it makes more sense.

For me, I would like to dispose of my landline connection as all I really it for need for is broadband. My maximum broadband speed is 3 mb whereas a 4G connection would transform that.

I am aware that costs would initially be high but once 4G becomes established prices will fall to a level where it becomes the norm to not have landline connections to your house unless you have cable tv or continually stream movies (which I don't).

GooliesOfFire

I know 4G is not all about mobile phones. But to me it doesn't make such a difference as I live in the area where there is no reception problems and cable broadband is available. Many will surely benefit from it.

Apparently my money saving Freeview is at risk due to frequency interference, so I cannot say I'm looking forward to it

But purely from mobile phone perspective it isn't so colourful as I cannot imagine T-Mobile or Vodafone to suddenly offer more data allowance without trying to make us pay more. I don't think there will be any unlimited data tariffs as there will be not enough revenue for the networks. It's better to charge people for them going over the limit and with 4G is will be so much easier to happen.

I'm getting 2.5Mb speeds on my 3G phone currently and I cannot complain. With data limits from main networks as they are now I don't need 4G. Would be nice to have 4G unlimited data with giffgaff for a tenner but we all know it's not going to happen lol

4G is a step forward and good thing overall, but it doesn't really excite me.

Dr_B_2

GooliesOfFire wrote: »

...;)

I'm getting 2.5Mb speeds on my 3G phone currently and I cannot complain. With data limits from main networks as they are now I don't need 4G. Would be nice to have 4G unlimited data with giffgaff for a tenner but we all know it's not going to happen lol...

This is the point isn't it? Surely the faster speeds will simply make it easier for people to hit their data cap more easily and then be fleeced in extra charges. The networks aren't stupid and if this puts paid to unlimited deals, it will be a bad thing for customers. I might switch to an unlimited deal now, in the hope that it will be grandfathered when they all start apologising for being forced to stop offering unlimited mobile data deals once 4G takes off.