How does 3g and 4g work

The 4G standard was achieved by overhauling and redesigning the wireless networks already in place, making them simpler and faster, and enabling them to incorporate and take advantage of new, more advanced, Digital Signal Processing DSP technology.

The upgrade saw networks able to operate at even greater speed and efficiency than before, and to handle more data faster.

Whilst 3G was already fast, with a latency of around milliseconds, 4G effectively halved that. Basically the main differences between 4G and 3G come down to speed, cost, and availability. This means uploading or downloading files takes much longer on 3G than 4G, and buffering and streaming of songs or videos will be slower, and more likely to be interrupted. The other main factor to consider is network coverage.

So before you choose between either 3G or 4G, remember to check which network providers offer 3G or 4G, at what cost, and if they provide coverage for either in your area. What are 3G and 4G and how do they work? If any of these questions ever cross your mind then read on, as we have the answers. WiFi is something that tends to come with broadband—but it is more than that. The WiFi symbol looks like a kind of fan which is black when the connection is working, or else like a bar graph. It will appear at the top right of your screen if you are on a Mac; at the bottom right if you are on a PC.

If some of the bars are grey, that means the signal is not as strong as it could be which might mean your connection is slow. If all the bars are grey, that means the device knows you have WiFi, but the connection has been lost temporarily.

All modern smartphones can. Tap here, and you should get a list of active WiFi connections in the vicinity. If yours is there, tap it to get connected. If not, then your connection has failed, and you will need to restart the router. If there is no available WiFi network, a smartphone or tablet can still access the internet through a different system called 3G or the newer version 4G, which is part of the mobile phone network you generally pay for this through a monthly contract.

You may have heard scary stories about people who have run up a huge monthly bill when their phones have accessed the internet while abroad. Find out more by reading our Cookie Policy. Uswitch Mobiles All articles. The difference between 3G and 4G? What does 4G mean? Is my phone 4G ready? Buying a 4G compatible smartphone Although most new phones are 4G compatible, not every phone supports the technology.

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