Originally Posted by
EvilmasterMMA The Difference Between 4G LTE, 4G HSPA, and 4G WiMax
You read the headlines, 4G to be great, Verizon using 4G LTE today, and you wonder, what is the real 4G and who has it. The answer is simple. There are 3 kinds of 4G (fourth generation network). LTE, HSPA and WiMax.
As usual, the first companies to adopt, may have bragging rights, but there network is worse.
Sprint was the first to have 4G, and they use WiMax. This is the worst kind of 4G out there. WiMax can only get about 4 to 5 Mega Bits per second.
T-Mobile was the second to adopt 4G, and they use HSPA, which stands for High Speed Packet Access. This allows a user to get around 6 to 7 Mega Bits per second. Or enhanced HSPA (HSPA+) which is capable of speeds of up to 21 mega bits per second.
Verizon and AT&T* were the last to update their network, but they use LTE. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution and can reach around 14 Mega Bits download per second. In some big cites users will be able to reach as much as 21 Mega Bytes download per second. This is as fast as most peoples home wifi network.
Even though Sprint says they were first in the game, and T-Mobile says they reach more people with there 4G, you want to go with either Verizon or AT&T*. The next generation of wireless (5G) will not come out for a while, maybe 5 years, so it is worth investing you�re money in faster speed, not more access points.
*AT&T may not have a tower out there, but a press release on 8-16-11 shows they are choosing 4G LTE.