5G is on the way!

[David Horn]

(09-16-2018, 10:52 PM)Eric the Green Wrote: Acronymns, ugh ugh!   Explain, define them please!

Google:

In telecommunication, Long-Term Evolution (LTE) is a standard for high-speed wireless communication for mobile devices and data terminals, based on the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA technologies. ... LTE is the upgrade path for carriers with both GSM/UMTS networks and CDMA2000 networks

Uh, now I understand (cough cough) (ugh ugh)

Translations:

• LTE: Long Term Evolution.  Prior to LTE, the many incompatible world standards were never going to merge
  
• GSM: Global Standard for Mobile.  This is the predominant world standard
  
• EDGE: Enhanced Data for GSM.  It's the data piece of GSM
  
• UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard.  This is a competitor to GSM, though the two have been normalized through LTE since 3G/4G
  
• HSPA: High Speed Packet Access. It's the data piece of UMTS
  
• CDMA2000: Code Division Multiple Access.  This is a Qualcomm standard used almost exclusively by Verizon, and the most difficult to normalize (thanks Verizon).
  

If this seems difficult, the entire subject is difficult.  Unlike Europe, we allowed private industry to make standards, and now we have to fix what they broke.  Guess who pays!

BTW, many if not most 4G/LTE phones will not work on 5G networks at all, though the 4G networks will continue to operate "for some time", whatever that means.  Assume a windfall for Apple and Samsung.  A lot depends on how the GMS/UMTS and CDMA2000 standards are merged at 5G, which is still not completely known.