GUnderstanding the facts today, before moving to tomorrow s generation.
2 There s no better demonstration of how changeable the mobile landscape is than the evolution of 4G. As the UK becomes ever more digitally connected, it is imperative that businesses understand what 4G is, what it will mean to their organisations, and the impact it could have on their current communications and technology. We ve designed this guide to provide impartial and informed facts on 4G as they currently stand, covering the key considerations on how to adopt and harness this new technology. Alternative will make sure you know how and when to move to 4G, putting all the checks and controls in place to eliminate any issues the transition might present.
3 4G THE BASICS 4G is the fourth generation of mobile technology standard. A 4G system provides mobile users ultra-fast broadband internet access. Whereas 3G speeds have always had a theoretical maximum of just over 7Mbps, and the real-world UK average has been nearer 2Mbps, the 4G network is capable of providing around 25-30Mbps. These greatly increased speeds will give mobile users on a 4G network broadband speeds equivalent to those they would expect at the office, giving them access to a significantly wider range of applications and services on the move. 4G is also sometimes referred to as LTE (Long Term Evolution), a high-speed mobile data standard. 4G services have been available in the UK since October 2012, when EE launched their service on the 1800MHz spectrum. As of 29 August 2013, 4G service will be available on both the Vodafone and O2 networks in London and will be in a dozen or so other major UK cities by the end of the year. 3G vs 4G How 3G compares to 4G across a range of everyday mobile activities SD HD Streaming music Streaming SD video Streaming HD video Uploading an image 4G 1 second buffer 1 second buffer 30 second buffer 1 second 3G 10 second buffer possible disruption during playback 20 second buffer possible disruption during playback 1-5 minute buffer disruption during playback 25 seconds
4 4G THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS 4G s powerful capabilities and wide-spread coverage enables businesses everywhere to build better relationships with their always on clients. It can enrich collaboration between office and field workers with high quality communication, meaning better and easier working on the go, or off site. Client and staff engagement is enhanced with easier and quicker downloads, faster access to business systems, and the ability to view videos and make video calls simply from mobile devices, without the frustration of excessive buffering and freezing. General benefits include: Increased productivity, sales and levels of service Decreased time and travel expenses through increased use of video and faster data sharing Increased levels of service to your customers Improved flexibility, agility and decision-making Enhanced corporate security over options such as wifi Faster network connectivity to remote or new sites Specific benefits for your mobile workforce: Fully mobile virtual desktops Faster sharing of large files and streaming media Faster sharing of time-sensitive data Remote access to business applications Better connectivity to moving vehicles
5 4G DELIVERY The frequency spectrums supporting 4G all have different properties and varying abilities around carrying mobile signal. The ranges operating in the UK are: 800MHz the radio frequency previously used for analogue TV signal transmission. Considered the best for 4G services, as it travels long distances without losing quality. Not only does it provide wider coverage outdoors, but also has the added advantage of providing excellent indoor coverage. 1800MHz 4G services can be run over this frequency by adapting existing infrastructure, so it can be rolled out quickly without the need to build a new network. 1800MHz offers enhanced coverage over the 2.6GHz spectrum. 2.5GHz the first and most widely-used spectrum for 4G services worldwide, this spectrum offers increased capacity over 800 MHz and 1800MHz. 2.6GHz provides large-scale capacity for heavy data usage for urban areas. The most sought after spectrum for 4G services is 800MHz, because of its ability to cover longer distances without quality degradation, and its indoor reach; Vodafone and O2 have the largest share of this spectrum. A portion of the 800MHz that was allocated in the auction also came with an obligation to provide 98% indoor population coverage by 2017; that allocation was awarded to O2. The spectrum is also important for mobile device compatibility. Different handsets and tablets from different manufacturers work on different frequencies. EE for example, have been pushing the message that the iphone 5 is only compatible with their 4G frequency. Vodafone and O2 will need the imminent 5S to be launched before they can offer a 4G-capable iphone on their networks.
6 WHAT YOU NEED TO MOVE TO 4G So if a move to 4G is right for you, there are a few basic requirements: Device The handset or tablet you re planning to use will need to be 4G-capable, but just as importantly, it must be compatible with the relevant network s 4G frequency. The device might also need an over-theair software update to use 4G. At launch, 4G will be available across a range of handsets and on all the major operating systems provided by Alternative, including: the Nokia Lumia 920 and 925 on Windows Phone 8, the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One and Sony Experia Z on Android, and the Q5, Q10 and Z10 on Blackberry. SIM A 4G-compatible SIM will be required. Most SIMs issued by Alternative within the last few months have been 4G-ready; older SIMs will need replacing. Tariff You will need to be signed up to a 4G tariff for the SIM you are planning to use. Although specific details have yet to be confirmed by both Vodafone and O2, this is likely to consist of an initial charge to upgrade, followed by standard data usage. Coverage You will need to be in an area geographically covered by the relevant network s 4G roll-out programme. Coverage-checking facilities will be available shortly. The good news is that both Vodafone and O2 s 4G service, operating on the 800MHz spectrum as detailed above, will offer enhanced in-building coverage. O2 s spectrum also carries a legal obligation to cover 98% of the UK population for indoor coverage. 4 G
7 KEY CONSIDERATIONS Geographical coverage & network capacity The roll-out of 4G from all the mobile network operators will be geographically phased. Cities around the UK will be given 4G coverage to achieve both the stated coverage aims of the individual network, and in O2 s case, to meet the regulatory obligations attached to the 4G frequencies that they were awarded. It will be important to ensure that there is 4G coverage, both in that geographical location, and just as importantly, indoors at that location. Both Vodafone and O2 s 4G networks will be superior in terms of signal, with the amount of spectrum that Vodafone has received giving it an advantage in terms of network capacity. Increased data usage When EE first launched 4G, early analysis highlighted the risks associated with the ability to consume data so quickly. Even with the highest speeds available at the time, a 500MB data bundle could be consumed within a matter of minutes. Speeds many times faster than the initial speed, are now being mooted, so the ability to monitor and control data usage and the associated costs to business are vital. Mobile broadband as a substitute for fixed broadband With the capabilities of some of the 4G spectrum, and the population coverage obligations, mobile broadband will be a real alternative to fixed broadband in some areas. 3G coverage in the UK has long been criticised for being patchy with signal not being available in all but urban areas. With mobile broadband speeds comparable to the superfast broadband available on fixed networks, this will provide a broadband solution to businesses with out-of-town and rural presence. Also, connectivity to new sites on a fixed-line has been time-consuming and often extremely costly. As an alternative, 4G will be quick to deploy and will not require any additional investment, as long as there is coverage. Your mobile strategy Offering super-fast speeds and increased coverage, 4G will be the enabler of real business mobility. The content and services that your employees expect, and that will also increase their out-ofoffice productivity, will be available to their mobile device.
8 MOVING TO 4G Alternative provides a wide choice of devices, operating systems, networks and tariffs, to ensure your transition to 4G is smooth and presents a predictable cost profile, allowing you to focus on fully harnessing its potential for your business. These are the key steps we take with customers to assess readiness and plan for a successfult migration to 4G: Assess how a move to 4G will benefit you Your current mobile strategy What applications your workforce uses now and how 4G will enhance the user experience How you can change your mobile strategy to take advantage of 4G Coverage geographical and in-building Which network s 4G service is the right fit for you Mitigate any risk by forecasting, monitoring and controlling usage costs Assess beforehand what the impact will be Monitor the impact of any change through Synapse, our unique online management tool Create alerts to allow you to react to any unacceptable usage Secure your devices Create and enforce acceptable usage policies We will help you define your mobile strategy We can give you the ability to prioritise business applications and usage, eliminating wasted time and unnecessary cost Securing your mobile fleet and your corporate data We provide enhanced security for any device, on any connection, from any location We provide unique solutions that can extend our expertise in IT networking out to protect your mobile fleet
9 FUTURE PROOF YOUR MOBILE WITH ALTERNATIVE Alternative Networks designs, implements and manages communications and technology infrastructures for businesses and our extensive mobile knowledge helps overcome any challenges, with a solution built around flexibility and choice, enhanced security, visibility and control all underpinned by service excellence. We will work with you to assess your requirements for 4G, your readiness, and how best to implement a move, whilst mitigating any risk. Not only that, but our dynamic service interface Synapse, gives you the ability to monitor and manage your fleet, controlling activity and providing security and assurance where it s needed. w. www.altternativenetworks.com e. info@alternativenetworks.com t. 0800 316 8866 f. 0800 316 8867 ISO14001 ISO9001 ISO27001 BS25999 These standards have been accredited to Alternative Networks plc and/or one of its group companies