Telecommunications: 3G and 4G Wireless Technology

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3G/4G
Third generation or 3G refers to the third generation of wireless technology. 3G network enables you to make video calls, watch live TV, access high speed internet and enjoy live streaming for an enhanced mobile internet experience.
Fourth generation, 4G, provides even faster speeds and ultra-broadband services, putting data-intensive services such as online gaming, high definition mobile TV and video conferencing within the reach of the average consumer.
These technologies have been adopted worldwide long before they were introduced in Pakistan; India, Nepal, Bangladesh and even Afghanistan had it. 2G GSM networks were widely used but 3G/4G is the newer, faster version and thus is the main topic for our report. During the course of this project, these technologies were in their launching process and thus we faced various contradicting and conflicting information regarding this unexplored area in telecommunications of Pakistan.
Pre requisites of this technology are a 3G connection and a 3g compatible mobile handset in 3g coverage areas. Since this issue was first raised in 2006, many companies had set up their infrastructure by 2008 and could have launched it by then since the country had 3g capable networks. 3g could also have been used on computers and tablets having broadband as a smartphone is not the only enabled device. However, due to much delay from the government’s side, the technologies were finally launched in 2014. This means that all 3G capable mobile phones may use this technology in some way no matter which network they use. Currently, only expensive smartphones have both 3g and 4g enabled on it while most medium-priced have only 3g and low-priced have 2g only.

Although the following benefits could be de...

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...tion of the spectrums finally took place in 2014 . This year, as some suspect, government needed to raise finance, and hence held an auction. Through this, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority raised $1.112 billion. Four telecom companies Mobilink, Zong, Telenor, and Ufone won 3G licenses whilst Zong was the only winner of 4G. Warid Telecom Pakistan did not make any bids but still manage to launch its 4G LTE services based on its previous license. The base price for a 3G license was $295 million and for a 4G license was $210m and the government earned about 1.16% above the base prices.

Works Cited

http://www.ufone.com/3G/Tariff/Prepaid/ http://propakistani.pk/2014/05/12/things-to-watch-out-downside-of-3g/ http://www.plumconsulting.co.uk/pdfs/Plum_Aug2013_Pakistan_3G.pdf
http://www.moremag.pk/2014/03/31/socio-economic-benefits-of-3g-and-4g-spectrum-in-pakistan/

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