Utilizing cellular networks

In this main section we will take a closer look at the different cellular networks and understand how we can utilize them. We will mainly cover 4G/LTE, 5G, C-V2X, and NB-IoT.

4G/LTE

What is known as 4G/LTE is not a single specification. It is a family of technologies that set out to meet a proposed definition of 4G laid out by the ITU in 2008. Its designers had the following improvements in mind over 3G:

• Fully packet-switched (3G was circuit-switched)
• Peak data rates up to 100 Mbps for mobile devices
• 1 Gbps for stationary devices such as 4G hotspots

Increased density of devices per cell through resource sharing:

Figure 3.20 – An example of a 4G/LTE network

How 4G/LTE is implemented varies considerably between Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). There are also key differences in how a given MNO’s 4G/LTE network functions across regions9. MNOs began rolling out 4G/LTE networks around 2011...