4G Vs 4G+
We hear a lot of talk about 4G versus 5G with much excitement for the continued rollout of 5G throughout the UK, but many are unaware of enhanced, or 4G+ LTE, mobile broadband which is already widely available throughout the UK.
What is 4G+?
4G+, or 4G Plus, is an enhanced version of 4G LTE also being referred to as 4G LTE-A or 4.5G. 4G+ utilises something called carrier aggregation to allow devices to access data across multiple bands of the 4G spectrum. This ability to draw data from multiple bands typically results in significant increases in speeds, but if you are in a densely populated area then you may not see the enhanced speeds offered by 4G+. Mobile operators tend to use 4G+ technology to balance the overall load of masts in densely populated areas to ensure a generally smoother service for all users.
Why 4G+ and not 5G?
4G currently comprises a bulk of mobile broadband coverage in the UK with 5G slowly catching up, but mobile broadband operators have also been enhancing their 4G networks in the background. 4G+ LTE mobile broadband is only available from masts that have been upgraded by mobile operators and customers will need 4G+ compatible devices to take advantage of the enhanced 4G+ broadband. All Freedomsat 4G SIM cards are both 4G+ and 5G compatible, so those looking to upgrade their 4G wireless broadband connection need only contact us to purchase an upgraded 4G+ broadband router.
Is it worth investing in 4G+?
Many will wonder if the upgrade to 4G+ is worthwhile if 5G is being rolled out, but the reality is that the rollout of 5G is being focused in urban and often densely populated areas. 5G equipment is still very expensive which can make upgrading to 5G cost-prohibitive with relatively little choice. 4G+ enabled routers and devices are only fractionally more expensive than their standard 4G counterparts. In terms of performance, we have seen real-world speeds of around 140Mbps for download speeds - a significant increase on the typical 20-40Mbps achieved on standard 4G.
Can I get 4G+?
The only limitation to 4G+ is the lack of transparency from the major mobile operators in the UK; no data is published to indicate if a mast is capable of 4G+ with online coverage checkers merely indicating whether you can access 3G, 4G or 5G. The good news is that 4G+ enabled devices are backwards compatible with standard 4G so, at the very least if 4G+ is not available, you will still be able to enjoy 4G LTE mobile broadband connectivity.
For this reason, however, Freedomsat will continue providing standard 4G broadband routers in the first instance but offer an optional upgrade to a 4G+ router. If 4G+ is available in your area, it should be evident from an improvement in performance and from the 4G+ LED light illuminating – so if it is not, customers can return the 4G+ router to be refunded and swapped out with the standard 4G router or choose to keep the router to ensure they are equipped to access enhanced broadband as and when it becomes available.
4G+ & 5G Ready SIMs
As a multi-technology ISP, Freedomsat utilises 4G LTE and 4G+ LTE wireless broadband to connect customers to superfast broadband where fibre broadband does not currently reach. Our existing 4G customers and new mobile broadband customers can all take advantage of both 4G+ and 5G mobile broadband as our SIM cards are 5G-ready (4G+/5G compatible equipment required).