Types of mobile Internet - deciphering abbreviations. LTE - what is it in a phone, how to use it Switch to LTE standard

04.09.2023

System

27.10.2015

In the previous article we already looked at third generation standards under the general name . However, communications of the fourth generation - 4G - are spreading rapidly. The main standard in 4G at the moment is LTE. Strictly speaking, LTE was not the first fourth-generation standard; the first widespread one was the WiMAX standard. Yota worked there for the first time, and some operators still use WiMAX. The maximum WiMAX speed is 40 Mbit/s, but real figures range from 10 to 20 Mbit/s.

But let's return to LTE. It is now the most widespread in the world in general and in Russia in particular. But what is 4G LTE? LTE (from English) Long-Term Evolution) is a wireless standard high speed transmission data for mobile devices. It is based on the same GSM/UMTS protocols, but theoretical and real data transfer speeds in LTE networks are much higher, sometimes even superior to wired connections!

LTE FDD and LTE TDD: what are the differences?

The LTE standard comes in two types, the differences between which are quite significant. FDD- Frequency Division Duplex (frequency separation of incoming and outgoing channels)
TDD- Time Division Duplex (time separation of incoming and outgoing channels). Roughly speaking, FDD is parallel LTE and TDD is serial LTE. For example, with a channel width of 20 MHz in FDD LTE, part of the range (15 MHz) is given for download, and part (5 MHz) for upload. Thus, the channels do not overlap in frequencies, which allows you to work simultaneously and stably for loading and unloading data. In TDD LTE, the same 20 MHz channel is completely given over to both downloading and uploading, and the data is transmitted to both sides alternately, with downloading still having priority. In general, FDD LTE is preferable because it works faster and more stable.

LTE frequencies

LTE networks (FDD and TDD) operate on different frequencies in different countries. In many countries, several frequency ranges are used at once. It is worth noting that not all equipment can work on different “bands”, i.e. frequency ranges. FDD ranges are numbered from 1 to 31, TDD ranges from 33 to 44. There are additionally several standards that have not yet been assigned numbers. Specifications for frequency bands are called bands (BAND). In Russia and Europe, band 7, band 20, band 3 and band 38 are mainly used.

FDD LTE bands and frequencies
LTE band number	Frequency range Upload (MHz)	Frequency range Download (MHz)	Bandwidth (MHz)
band 1	1920 - 1980	2110 - 2170	2x60
band 2	1850 - 1910	1930 - 1990	2x60
band 3	1710 - 1785	1805 -1880	2x75
band 4	1710 - 1755	2110 - 2155	2x45
band 5	824 - 849	869 - 894	2x25
band 6	830 - 840	875 - 885	2x10
band 7	2500 - 2570	2620 - 2690	2x70
band 8	880 - 915	925 - 960	2x35
band 9	1749.9 - 1784.9	1844.9 - 1879.9	2x35
band 10	1710 - 1770	2110 - 2170	2x60
band 11	1427.9 - 1452.9	1475.9 - 1500.9	2x20
band 12	698 - 716	728 - 746	2x18
band 13	777 - 787	746 - 756	2x10
band 14	788 - 798	758 - 768	2x10
band 15	1900 - 1920	2600 - 2620	2x20
band 16	2010 - 2025	2585 - 2600	2x15
band 17	704 - 716	734 - 746	2x12
band 18	815 - 830	860 - 875	2x15
band 19	830 - 845	875 - 890	2x15
band 20	832 - 862	791 - 821	2x30
band 21	1447.9 - 1462.9	1495.5 - 1510.9	2x15
band 22	3410 - 3500	3510 - 3600	2x90
band 23	2000 - 2020	2180 - 2200	2x20
band 24	1625.5 - 1660.5	1525 - 1559	2x34
band 25	1850 - 1915	1930 - 1995	2x65
band 26	814 - 849	859 - 894	2x35
band 27	807 - 824	852 - 869	2x17
band 28	703 - 748	758 - 803	2x45
band 29	n/a	717 - 728	11
band 30	2305 - 2315	2350 - 2360	2x10
band 31	452.5 - 457.5	462.5 - 467.5	2x5

TDD LTE bands and frequencies
LTE band number	Frequency range (MHz)	Bandwidth (MHz)
band 33	1900 - 1920	20
band 34	2010 - 2025	15
band 35	1850 - 1910	60
band 36	1930 - 1990	60
band 37	1910 - 1930	20
band 38	2570 - 2620	50
band 39	1880 - 1920	40
band 40	2300 - 2400	100
band 41	2496 - 2690	194
band 42	3400 - 3600	200
band 43	3600 - 3800	200
band 44	703 - 803	100

Here is a list of frequency ranges of 4G LTE networks in Russia of the Big Five operators. There are also regional 4G LTE networks of local operators operating in other frequency bands, but their consideration is not necessary within the scope of this article.

4G LTE networks in Russia
Operator	Frequency range /↓ (MHz)	Channel Width (MHz)	Duplex type	Lane number
Yota	2500-2530 / 2620-2650	2x30	FDD	band 7
Megaphone	2530-2540 / 2650-2660	2x10	FDD	band 7
Megaphone	2575-2595	20	TDD	band 38
MTS	2540-2550 / 2660-2670	2x10	FDD	band 7
MTS	2595-2615	20	TDD	band 38
Beeline	2550-2560 / 2670-2680	2x10	FDD	band 7
Tele 2	2560-2570 / 2680-2690	2x10	FDD	band 7
MTS	1710-1785 / 1805-1880	2x75	FDD	band 3
Tele 2	832-839.5 / 791-798.5	2x7.5	FDD	band 20
MTS	839.5-847 / 798.5-806	2x7.5	FDD	band 20
Megaphone	847-854.5 / 806-813.5	2x7.5	FDD	band 20
Beeline	854.5-862 / 813.5-821	2x7.5	FDD	band 20

The most important criterion, which is of particular interest to subscribers, i.e. users of 4G LTE networks, is the data transfer speed. And the speed primarily depends on the width of the frequency range of a particular operator, as well as the type of duplex used in the network. For example, for a 10 MHz channel, the 4G LTE speed will be 75 Mbit/s. It is with this nominal speed that the LTE FDD (band 7) networks of Tele2, MTS and operators operate. What about Megafon? And Megafon can afford more. Because several years ago there was a merger, or rather the absorption of Yota by Megafon, now Megafon has licenses for Yota frequencies, respectively, the maximum channel width can reach 40 MHz in the frequency range of 2600 MHz (band 7), which in theory gives as much as 300 Mbit/s! But basically the Megafon 4G network operates in a 15-20 MHz channel, which gives a download speed of 100-150 Mbit/s. After all, something must be left for Iota.

LTE-Advanced, or 4G+

The next stage in the development of 4G LTE networks is the LTE-A (LTE-Advanced) standard. Some operators call this technology 4G+ for marketing purposes, but this is completely incorrect. Those. in fact, it is LTE-Advanced that is truly 4G. Data transfer speeds in the LTE-A network are significantly higher than regular LTE. The main feature of LTE-Advanced is the aggregation of frequency ranges. A subscriber device with LTE-A support summarizes data transmission channels in different frequency ranges available to the operator. For example, combining several frequency ranges in the 2600 MHz band, a channel of 40 MHz is obtained, which gives a speed in the LTE-Advanced network of 300 Mbit/s. But this is far from the limit. If you add another 20 MHz from the 1800 MHz band, you get a 60 MHz channel (band 7 + band 3), and that’s already 450 Mbit/s! However, these are theoretical or bench speeds. In reality, they are of course much smaller, but nevertheless, LTE-Advanced wireless technology is quite close to wired speeds.

It is worth noting that all operators can aggregate different channels in different frequency ranges if they have the appropriate licenses and network infrastructure. The main task is to expand the frequency range. The wider it is, the higher the maximum speed, i.e. throughput networks. But of course there must be subscriber equipment that supports LTE-Advanced.

Prospects for 4G LTE

Despite the fact that the 4G LTE standard appeared several years ago, many regions of our country still do not even have 3G networks. So there is still room to grow. The world is already testing 5th generation (5G) networks, but in real conditions 4G LTE networks will dominate for a long time, fortunately operators are actively developing them.

In many cases, 4G Internet is not only an alternative to a wired connection, but also the only option, including an economically feasible one. Remote objects, the laying of wires to which involves certain difficulties or risks, and sometimes is completely impossible, also need to be connected. It is often possible to connect to 4G Internet even where there is no LTE network coverage. For this purpose special , which catch and amplify the 4G LTE signal. To choose the right antenna, you need to know which operator’s network you need to catch, at what frequency it operates, and also in what duplex mode (FDD or TDD). Our They will determine the type of signal, measure its parameters, and select the appropriate equipment to ensure fast and stable access to the Internet via the 4G LTE network.

Just a few years ago technology LTE(Long Term Evolution) was a curiosity, available only in a few, most advanced countries. Today, most of the world uses it, including Russia, and we are already starting to get used to the ability to safely watch online videos on the go. But progress does not stand still. Let's look beyond the horizon and imagine what mobile Internet will be like in the near future. What will replace LTE?

Our assistants

We were not alone in the search for truth. The project was prepared with the support of technical specialists of the company " VimpelCom"(Beeline), who helped us find the necessary information and provided interesting facts. Thanks guys. And now we dive into the future, starting with the recent past.

1. The birth of LTE

Technologies are developing at a rapid pace, and in completely different areas of human activity: in medicine, consumer electronics, energy and, of course, in mobile telecommunications. Today, watching videos on YouTube on your smartphone, being somewhere in the middle of the city, or even in the country, and using a mobile network for this, is quite normal and familiar. But just 10 years ago, few could have dreamed of such luxury even on wired home Internet. It’s easy to get an average air speed of 5–10 Mbit/s! But 10 years ago, having Internet access at a speed of 256–512 Kbps (20 times less) at home was a luxury available to only a few. I don’t even want to remember the mobile Internet of that time.

Russia became one of the first countries where, through the efforts of Yota, a commercial LTE network was launched. This happened in 2011, but at that time there were only 11 base stations in the vicinity of Moscow, and it was too early to talk about any kind of mass implementation of the technology. The number of smartphones with LTE support on the Russian market then tended to zero. But in 2014, a full-scale launch of fourth-generation mobile networks took place with the participation of the Big Three operators. Even in comparison with the very fast 3G and HSPA+, the new technology demonstrated miracles of speed, and, it would seem, nothing more is needed. Nevertheless, the development and systematic implementation of even more advanced mobile technologies is already underway, which we will discuss below.

2. Near future. LTE-Advanced

Somehow we are accustomed to perceive LTE as a 4G standard, that is, these are supposedly fourth-generation mobile networks, which is not entirely true. This is due to advertising. In fact, in terms of its speed characteristics, this standard does not reach the technical requirements that the consortium 3GPP And International Telecommunication Union(ITU, ITU) adopted for new generation cellular communications. But the impressive marketing pressure and improvements brought by HSPA+, LTE and the now forgotten WiMAX forced the ITU to give permission to label the mentioned technologies as 4G (yes, HSPA+ is also 4G). But still, it would be more correct to call LTE the 3.5G generation, but LTE-Advanced already fully satisfies the requirements of responsible organizations and is truly a 4G standard. But to avoid confusion, it is called True 4G(Real 4G) and it is this technology that will massively replace LTE in the very near future.

First, let's look at the speed characteristics of LTE-Advanced compared to LTE. The latter, in radio conditions close to ideal, allows you to reach peak speeds of 150 Mbit/s; in practice, in urban conditions it is almost always up to 50 Mbit/s, which is also cool. Unfortunately, peak speed for LTE is a very rare occurrence in our world, and the greater the number of subscribers on the network, the further the actual speeds will be from the peak. In turn, the data download speed in the LTE-Advanced network can reach 1 Gbit/s at its peak (during demonstration tests, a real speed of 450 Mbit/s was achieved), although in reality you should not count on more than 100 Mbit/s, yes There's no need for more for now.

More important is the fact that the technology in question makes it possible to use the cellular network more efficiently and quickly increase its capacity in a variety of ways, including the use of femtocells and picocells. That is, operators will be able to easily and fairly quickly improve the quality of their networks by using existing capacities and supplementing them with inexpensive base stations. All equipment is already available and thoroughly studied.

Technically, LTE-Advanced cannot be called something completely new, since, in fact, this initiative combines several technologies that have been available on the market for several years:

Carrier Aggregation- carrier aggregation.
Coordinated Multipoint allows the device to connect simultaneously to several base stations and increase transmission speed by downloading or uploading data into multiple streams.
Enhanced MIMO- use of several receiving and several transmitting antennas. In this case, this is support for MIMO 8x8 in the downlink (from the base station to the mobile stations) and MIMO 4x4 in the uplink (from the mobile station to the base station).
Relay Nodes- support for relay nodes. They can effectively close coverage gaps and improve radio conditions for users located at the cell edges.

Together, these technologies allow you to increase speed mobile internet, improve connection stability and, in general, make working on the Internet much more comfortable, including conditions when you are moving at high speed (for example, in a car, bus or train). The last nuance is a very serious limitation for 3G networks, as it greatly reduces the quality of communication. In addition, LTE-Advanced provides minimal delays in packet transmission, up to 5 ms. That is, you can comfortably play online games via a mobile network.

As for voice transmission, as in the case of LTE, it is possible to work in VoIP mode or use 2G/3G networks in parallel for this. It is the latter option that has taken root in Russia, although work is underway to switch to the more advanced VoLTE (that is, VoIP).

The main reason for the rapid adoption of LTE-Advanced is the ability to use existing networks and equipment to deploy True 4G. Moreover, Yota was the first in the world to launch this technology on a commercial network, which happened back in 2012. 12 base stations were involved in the work, which, of course, could not provide users with the benefits of the technology. In February 2014 Megaphone launched the LTE-Advanced network within the Garden Ring of Moscow, combining bands in one band, which has a good effect on increasing the maximum possible speed, but has little impact on the user experience (these maximum speeds remain available only within a conventional 30 meters from the BS). And in August of the same year it promptly worked Beeline and launched an LTE network in Moscow, combining bands from 2 bands - Band 7 (2.6 GHz) and Band 20 (800 MHz) - with a maximum speed of up to 115 Mbit/s towards the subscriber (this is about 14 MB/s - like at home on a wire). Combining bands from high and low bands into one channel is the ideal manifestation of LTE-Advanced: it allows you to combine high speeds with good coverage. It is the possibility of combining and simultaneous use of several frequencies that underlies the technology under consideration. Now in practice this is possible for 2 or 3 bands; in the future, the operator will be able to combine all its available frequencies to organize a communication channel with one subscriber.

LTE-Advanced networks are being actively deployed today and their capabilities should last for a long time. In fact, the task of operators now is not to slow down, increase their equipment fleet, improve the quality of services provided and expand the coverage of their networks. With a sufficiently high density of base stations, LTE-Advanced may well be able to replace wired home Internet, and this is a matter of the near future.

Although this is the future already available in major Russian cities. Specifically, here's how Beeline commented on the implementation of LTE-Advanced and the development of mobile technologies in Russia in general:

Today, one of the LTE-A technologies - Carrier Aggregation (carrier aggregation) is available on the Beeline network throughout Moscow. And our clients who own smartphones with 4G+ support are already actively using it. However, LTE-A is not only about combining frequency bands. The prospects for the development of this area for our company are much larger! Our networks are already ready to launch almost all technologies related to LTE-A; all that remains is to wait for subscriber devices that support them to appear on the market.

It is worth noting that the development of this technology occurs in parallel with the further increase in power in 3G and 4G networks. In 2014, the number of LTE stations in Moscow alone increased 2.7 times! The 3G network not only continues to be built, but is also being modernized. For example, DC-HSPA+ is already 42 Mbit/s, and not 3 or 7 Mbit/s, as it was several years ago.

If speak about implementation of LTE in other regions of Russia, then the situation is somewhat more complicated than in Moscow, but companies are also working in this direction. Experts see the situation as follows:

As a rule, the spread of such technologies depends on two important factors: the availability of subscriber devices that support LTE-A Russian frequencies, and the free frequencies themselves. At the moment, the Russian gadget market cannot boast of a wide range of smartphones with LTE-A support; in other words, the number of such models can be counted on one hand. On the other hand, there is also the problem of availability of suitable frequencies. Carrier Aggregation in its ideal form is the combination of all operator frequencies. However, the frequencies can be used by the military and aviation. Therefore, the launch of LTE-A technology in other regions depends on measures to free up frequencies. Currently, the technology operates on the already free frequencies of the 800 band in Moscow.

By the way, the very name of the Long Term Evolution technology translates as “ Long term evolution", so the standard was initially developed years in advance, but man does not stand still, and sooner or later new technologies will come that will change the world. We'll talk about them below.

3. The next step, revolutionary

Should we expect some kind of revolutionary breakthrough in mobile data technologies in the near future? For example, abandoning the traditional architecture of telecom networks, the foundations of which were laid during the development of the first generation standards (NMT, GSM)? Perhaps such a leap will occur after 2020 with the advent of fifth-generation mobile networks.

So far, little is known about this, because today we are only witnessing the emergence of those technologies that will form the basis of the future mobile Internet. Even the official standard 5G still doesn't exist. However, there are already several directions in which future mobile networks will develop. Let's discuss them.

What will 5G give us? First of all, this is another leap in data exchange speed, at least by an order of magnitude. In addition, delays in processing requests will be reduced and network capacity will significantly increase (more connections and increased data transfer volume even within one base station).

Second important point- focusing on the subscriber, not on the base stations. Today, if a person sees a weak network signal, he tries to move closer to the base station to improve the quality of communication. And at maximum good signal and minimal load on the Network, the user will still not receive the maximum possible speed, but only some average option. It's all about the limitations of the technology, which does not imply individualization of subscribers. In 5G networks, the use of so-called smart antennas is expected, capable of changing the radiation pattern depending on the needs of subscribers in specific conditions. With a minimum number of subscribers, data will be sent to them via a narrowly directed channel, which will increase the data transfer speed.

Further development will also be MIMO technology. Now LTE networks mainly use 2x2 configurations, that is, two antennas for data transmission at the base station and two for reception at the subscriber device. In 5G networks, their number is planned to increase significantly to increase data exchange speed. Another way to do this is to increase the frequency channel width. Since operators are already “crowded” in the currently used frequency ranges (even 20 MHz of continuous spectrum is a luxury), it is necessary to move to higher ranges - up to millimeter waves(30 GHz and above). However, you need to remember that with an increase in the operating frequency, due to the characteristics of radio wave propagation, the communication range decreases, which can impose a number of restrictions (the size of the cell decreases). On the other hand, there is absolutely no need to make a continuous coating in all ranges.

Naturally, new mobile networks mean not only a banal increase in capacity and speeds, but also an efficient use of available resources. For example, the implementation of the concept device-to-device(device-to-device). The situation is familiar when people are at a short distance from each other, say 10–20 meters, and at the same time they have to communicate by phone or transfer data via a cellular network. The mentioned concept involves the interaction of devices directly, and only call tariffs will pass through the Network, which will greatly relieve the load on base stations.

Safety for human health and energy efficiency are also important elements of future networks, but these are already details.

What 5G do we already have today?? Enormous data transfer speed, which is so far achieved only in laboratory conditions, but this is where all previous standards began. So Samsung Electronics is actively developing its own 5G standard, within which it has achieved data transfer speeds in 7.5 Gbps(940 MB/sec) with a fixed connection and 1.2 Gbps(150 MB/s) in a car moving at speed 150 km/h.

In the fifth generation mobile network, the Korean company uses the frequency 28 GHz, and she has been developing this direction for several years. The first public demonstration took place in 2013, and then Samsung showed the result wireless transmission data in the 5G network at the level of 1 Gbit/s - this was a record, which it has now surpassed by 7.5 times.

Europe, in particular, is not lagging behind the Asians Ericsson has already developed a number of technologies that will be in demand in future mobile networks. It's about 5G-LTE Dual Connectivity And 5G Multipoint Connectivity. The first allows the device to communicate with LTE networks and 5G in one-time switching mode to implement a seamless transition between them. This is important for supporting different frequency spectra and efficient simultaneous operation of two standards. Given the potentially small size of 5G cells, one should not expect global coverage of such networks in their first few years of existence. This is where the ability to seamlessly operate two standards at the same time comes in handy.

Concerning 5G Multipoint Connectivity, then this is already one of the technologies only for the new standard. It allows the device to connect simultaneously to two base stations and increase the transfer speed by downloading data in multiple streams. The fact is that the ability to increase network capacity by adding different types base stations in the case of 5G will be used even more actively than in LTE-Advanced and 5G Multipoint Connectivity may become a key technology for increasing data exchange speeds.

Unfortunately, Samsung and Ericsson each pull in their own direction and use different technologies for data transfer. For Europeans, these are base stations operating on the frequency 15 GHz. So far, Ericsson has been able to achieve peak speed in laboratory conditions 5 Gbps in a working 5G network.

But there is also a Chinese one Huawei with her own decision, but she has not yet expanded on this matter. In general, at the moment we again have several potential 5G standards, which in the future can only complicate life for consumers and manufacturers of end devices if they are implemented simultaneously. On the other hand, some new generation technologies can be tested on existing networks or will be introduced into them in the near future. Moreover, Russia is also taking an active part in the development of 5G:

"VimpelCom" at the level of the VimpelCom Ltd group of companies. actively participates in the formation of recommendations for 5G network standards within the framework of NGMN and cooperates with major network equipment suppliers in this direction. It is still premature to talk about the construction of 5G networks, as there are still a lot of open questions regarding standardization. But we can already safely talk about introducing into existing networks elements and mechanisms that will be used in 5G networks. In particular, aggregation of carriers from different bands and some other functions that will form the basis of 5G networks are already a reality for VimpelCom.
Commentary from Beeline specialists

But I would like some kind of globalization, and the head of Tesla and the eccentric billionaire Sir are working in this direction Richard Branson. They are competitors to each other, and Musk’s development looks more promising within the framework of the topic under consideration.

4. Global Internet

Branson and his project OneWeb involves launching 700 satellites into low orbit (1200 km) to provide Internet to hard-to-reach places on the planet and third world countries where it is problematic to develop traditional mobile and fiber-optic networks. In general, we are talking about global access to the Network, which can be used in the dense jungle of the Amazon, and at an altitude of thousands of meters above sea level in the mountains, and on board any aircraft. If the project starts successfully, then the number of satellites can be increased to 2,400. True, Branson does not mention the technologies that will be used for data exchange, but he does not intend to drag his feet with the project. So these could be existing LTE-Advanced developments. Currently, the project budget is set at $2 billion.

In its turn Elon Musk is in no hurry and states that his similar venture will start no earlier than 2020, and he intends to invest no less than $10 billion. The idea is the same - to envelop the planet with a network of satellites in low orbit, but the head of Tesla and SpaseX immediately talks about the global Internet, and not about covering hard-to-reach places with the Network. In addition, the main goal of the project is to provide communications to the future Martian city and earn money for its development. Yes, Musk does not waste his time on trifles. If we’re going to make an electric car, then it’s the best in the world. If you create spaceships, then they will be reusable and for traveling to Mars.

So, taking into account all of the above, we should count on the use of the latest telecommunications technologies in Musk’s satellites, and they may well become the basis for the future global Internet system of the planet.

Today, when the world is striving for globalization, and the Internet is virtualizing many processes that until recently were only available in cities with a population of over a million, this issue [of globalization] is especially relevant. Technology can not only grow business and facilitate communication. Their role is much larger. And one of the components is social.

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  5. Reboot your device (turn it off and on).
  6. Turn off Wi-Fi on your smartphone/tablet (when using a router from MegaFon, Wi-Fi should remain on).
  7. Move the SIM card to another device. If the mobile Internet also does not work in another device, contact the nearest MegaFon store with an identification document to replace the SIM card. When replacing a SIM card, the phone number will not change; the service is provided free of charge.
    To find out the address of the nearest salon, open the MegaFon application.
  8. When using the Internet via a modem/router: Reinstall the MegaFon Internet application, try connecting the modem/router to another USB port on the computer, update the software of your modem/router. Latest versions You can download the software for free from the MegaFon online store. Find your modem or router in the directory and go to the "Files" tab.
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- What is 4G+, how to start using it and how does the transition from a 2G/3G network to 4G+ happen?
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- How to top up your account?
  Choose any convenient way:
  1. Top up your account from a bank card or e-wallet in the Payment section.
  2. On the main page of your Personal Account, you can top up your account, as well as the account of another Megafon subscriber, with a bank card.
  3. Set up Autopayment yourself in your Personal Account on the website or contact a specialist at a MegaFon salon for help. With this service, the balance will be replenished automatically from your bank card.
  4. If you can’t pay right now, use the Promised payment service.
  5. Another MegaFon subscriber can transfer money to you from their account using the Mobile Transfer service. To send a request to another subscriber, use the free Pay for me service.
  6. If you are a client of Sberbank and your bank card linked to a phone number, enter the required amount in an SMS and send it to the number or use the Sberbank-Online application.
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- How to stay in touch with a negative or zero balance?
  - For what period can I get details?
    You can order one-time details for one or several days, periodic ones for a calendar month, or receive a brief summary of all charges and payments monthly.
    
    Your details are stored for 36 calendar months (even after termination of the contract).
    
    If you have activated the “Periodic account detailing” service, then a detailed report is sent to your email once a month (approximately the 10th of each month). You can receive the report the next month after connecting to the service.
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  - Why is not all the information included in my report?
    The subscription fee is charged in accordance with the Subscription Terms.
    
    To find out which subscriptions are connected, go to your Personal Account, select the “Services and Options” section, the “My” subsection, which will display a list of subscriptions connected to your number
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  - How to unsubscribe?
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  - Can I listen to a recording of my telephone conversation?
    MegaFon does not record subscriber calls.
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  - How to set up call forwarding?
    You can set up or cancel call forwarding in the phone menu or in your Personal Account. For conditions and cost of setting up forwarding, see the service page.
    
    If the established forwarding does not work, check whether there are any restrictions on your number and whether the number is entered correctly.
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  - What is VoLTE technology and what is needed to use it?
    The service is available to MegaFon subscribers at all tariffs and is provided both in the Home region and in roaming.
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  - - Your service has been automatically activated. S called me. You will receive a notification in the form of a missed call from the person who tried to call you, indicating the time and number of calls. The service is free.
    - Activate the Who Called+ service. You will receive SMS about a missed call or voice messages on the answering machine. When you connect “Who called+”, the “I was called by S” service will be automatically disabled.
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- Emergency help
  - How to call emergency services?
    Single call number emergency services:
    
    1 - Fire Department;
    
    2 - police;
    
    3 - emergency;
    
    4 — emergency gas network service.
    
    Emergency numbers:
    
    Emergency - ;
    
    Calls to emergency numbers are free. You can call if there is no money in your account, and even from a phone without a SIM card.
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  - What to do if your phone is lost or stolen?
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  - How to protect yourself from scammers?
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  - How are emergency communications services provided?
- Roaming
  - How to use communication services when traveling around Russia and the world?
    When traveling around our country, no additional actions are required to use communication services. The only condition is that you must have a positive balance.
    
    When you go to other countries, as well as to the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, where there is no MegaFon network, you need to make sure that you have the Roaming service activated. It is needed so that you can use communication services in the networks of other operators.
    - 8 800 550-05-00 +7 926 111-05-00 from anywhere in the world;
    - Personal account or MegaFon application;
    - go to the MegaFon salon with your passport.
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  - How to connect and disconnect services in roaming and spend less?
    The easiest and most convenient way is mobile app"MegaFon" or Personal Account. You can check your balance, connect or disconnect services and options, order detailed expenses and ask questions to support in the chat.
    
    When roaming, you do not need to change your mobile Internet settings.
    
    Note!
    
    Some phones may limit data usage while roaming. Go to settings and check if mobile Internet is enabled in roaming.
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  - Why doesn't my mobile Internet work while roaming?
    - There is not enough money in the account. Check your balance and top it up if necessary.
    - The phone does not find the network.
      Try restarting your phone and selecting the network manually. Go to the settings, find the “Network selection / Operator” item, select “Manual” or cancel “Automatic”. Select a network from the list provided. When the phone connects to the network, Internet access will appear.
    - In your phone settings, data transfer while roaming is disabled.
      Go to settings and check if mobile Internet is enabled in roaming.
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" is a marketing term that implies the fourth generation of mobile wireless cellular communications. While 1G refers to the first batch of widely available mobile phones 2G moved to digital systems, bringing with the introduction of text messaging, and then 3G technology offered significant improvements, not least the ability to easily surf the web, and now 4G, designed to meet the speed demands required by further developments existing 3G applications such as text messaging, video calling and mobile television. In short, all the improvements that fancy adds to smartphones, such as HDTV capability, require more advanced technology and faster speeds. 4G is the answer to this problem.

4G (English fourth generation - fourth generation) is a promising (fourth) generation of mobile communications, which is characterized by high data transfer speeds and improved quality of voice communications. The fourth generation usually includes promising technologies that can be used to transmit data at speeds above 10 Mbit/s to mobile subscribers.

In 2007, the International Telecommunication Union in the Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) defined a new global standard called International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced (IMT-Advanced). The standard contains a list of functions that a network must meet before it can be called "4G". These are the following functions (quote from ITU):

compatibility of services within IMT and with fixed networks;
the ability to interact with other radio access systems;
high-quality mobile communication services;
the ability to roam around the world;
Improved peak data rates to support expanded services and applications.

This means that IMT-Advanced will be an Internet Protocol (IP) packet-switched network that includes Voice-over-IP (VoIP) rather than individual circuits phone call, used in 3G networks.

Another feature of IMT-Advanced will be seamless communication and roaming over multiple network types, including smooth handover.

Simply put, smooth transmission means that your device will have access to the fastest network available. If you answer a phone call and move within the Wi-Fi Hotspot's range, the device will move from the 4G network to the Wi-Fi Hotspot without losing telephone communication, and you will stay connected in your operator's area while you are in the Wi-Fi area. When you leave the Wi-Fi zone, the device will smoothly switch back to the 4G network without losing your phone connection. The list of requirements states that 4G networks must be able to exchange data at speeds of up to 100 Mbps. To put this into perspective, 3G data speeds can currently be as slow as 3.84Mbps, so this is a significant step forward.

Modern technologies, which will become everyday life in the very near future, are impossible without guaranteed broadband access, for example, remote surgical operations and online consultation systems, which will allow patients to contact the best specialists, and the latter will instantly receive medical records of their patients. technologies, without which almost any type of activity will be unthinkable in the coming years, require reliable, fast and high-capacity channels. Mobile 4G networks will allow you to transfer gigabytes of data instantly and with a high degree of security. Wireless technologies are leading the way in providing broadband access to rural areas. It is smarter and more cost-effective to build one 4G station capable of providing communications over a distance of tens of kilometers, rather than laying optical fiber. Perhaps Russia will turn into a country with one of the most advanced 4G networks, especially since the head of the Ministry of Communications is Nikolai Nikiforov, and his deputy is the owner of Yota Denis Sverdlov. Both Nikiforov and Sverdlov are people with extensive practical experience. The first developed and successfully launched “electronic government” in the Republic of Tatarstan, the second is the general director of the first brand in Russia that launched the WiMAX wireless Internet communication format in 2009, and the most advanced LTE format in 2011. Currently, LTE devices are designed for speeds of 20 Mbit/s, but theoretically the fourth generation network can provide speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s, which makes possible job completely new services. For example, conducting high-quality video conferences on huge office screens. Participants in such conferences can not only be located in different geographical locations, but also move, for example, in: a web camera on a laptop operating in an LTE network will ensure full participation in the dialogue. File exchange becomes incredibly fast: for example, a 100 MB file can be uploaded to an FTP server in just 4 seconds. Ordinary users will most likely be interested in mobile Internet television. 4G means you can easily download both music and videos on the go, downloading a standard movie over 4G will only take 10-15 minutes. The fast connection will also allow mobile gamers to enjoy challenging multiplayer games online games. Already now, LTE allows you to transmit HD video in real time - the main thing is that the servers of the sending side work quickly (YouTube is already configured for fast video delivery, but many video services are not on the Internet yet). Augmented reality systems will be a science-fiction service that 4G networks will provide: cloud server will send hundreds of contextual clues to the screens of mobile devices, based on the location of the subscriber and the cityscape that their webcams “see”.

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The terms LTE and 4G have been around for a long time and are gradually becoming part of the vocabulary of a modern person, and with the advent of a new generation of Android smartphones and the release of iPhone 5, we simply need to know more about this technology, just so that there is no confusion, and for general development.

In this article we will try to give the simplest answers to the most popular questions about LTE.

What is LTE?

Developed by the 3GPP consortium Long Term Evolution (literally translated, “long-term development”), in the generally accepted abbreviated version - LTE - is new standard mobile networks with increased capacity and data transfer speed. LTE uses different frequencies, but operates on the basis of the GSM/HSPA networks used, in fact being an improved version of them. The term 4G, or “fourth generation wireless communications,” is used as a synonym for LTE, emphasizing the differences between this standard and 3G. According to preliminary forecasts, by 2016 the total number of mobile broadband network subscribers may reach 5 billion people.

How LTE (4G) differs from 3G

First of all, it is necessary to understand that 4G LTE is an evolutionary, not a revolutionary development path that involves using the capabilities of the existing infrastructure. 3G networks will continue to perform the tasks of delivering broadband services to billions of mobile device users for a long time and with no less efficiency. But 4G, nevertheless, confidently predicts the role of the generally accepted standard for mobile communications in view of a number of obvious advantages of 4G LTE technology, the main of which are:

higher performance and throughput;
Simplicity - LTE supports flexible bandwidth options with carrier frequencies from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz, as well as frequency-division duplex (FDD) and time-division duplex (TDD).
latency - LTE has a significantly lower delay in data transmission for user plane protocols compared to existing third-generation technologies (an advantage that is extremely important, for example, for serving multiplayer online games).
a wide range of end devices - it is planned to equip not only smartphones and tablets with LTE modules, but also laptops, game consoles, video cameras and other portable and household devices.

LTE speed

The capabilities of LTE technology provide data transfer rates of up to 299.6 Mbit/s for download (download) and up to 75.4 Mbit/s for upload (upload). However, in LTE, the speed in each specific case largely depends on both the user’s location and the current load on the network. But LTE is developing: two years ago at the MWC-2010 congress, a possible peak throughput of up to 1.2 Gbit per second was demonstrated. However, for example, in Singapore, where national LTE coverage is provided by the M1 operator, the average download speed in LTE does not exceed 75 Mbit/s. In the near future, the company plans to increase speeds to 150 Mbit/s by using frequencies that are currently used to support the outdated 2G standard.

Why are LTE frequencies different in different countries?

Despite the fact that LTE is developing very actively all over the world, there is no single frequency range on which 4G operators operate in different countries of the world. This is due to the fact that the radio frequency spectrum in many countries is under the control of government agencies, and the activities of operators are licensed. In different countries, certain frequencies are already used by other services (like digital TV), so telecommunications companies have to use those that are currently available and wait for the opportunity to access new bands, as is the case with Singapore's M1.

Most commonly used LTE frequencies

In Asian countries it is 1800 MHz or 2600 MHz. It is on these frequencies that operators operate in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea. In Japan and the USA - 700 MHz or 2100 MHz. In Europe - 1800 MHz or 2600 MHz.

In Russia, LTE licenses were received by Rostelecom (791-798.5/832-839.5 MHz, Band 20), MTS (798.5-806/839.5-847 MHz, Band 20), Megafon (806-813.5/847 -854.5 MHz, Band 20) and VimpelCom (““) (813.5-821/854.5-862 MHz, Band 20), which will begin providing 4G LTE services from July next year.

In Ukraine, LTE networks are just beginning to develop, and, according to experts, at least a year and a half will pass before its full commercial operation begins. The reasons for this lag are problems with regulation and licensing, as well as insufficient transport network capacity.

Universal LTE smartphone?

There is no such device yet, since manufacturers have not yet developed such a compact antenna that could provide signal reception and transmission at least at the most popular LTE frequencies simultaneously. That’s why they say that an iPhone 5 purchased in the States may not work in Asian and European LTE networks. But you shouldn’t be too upset, it’s always universal, available in all countries of the world. However, if we take into account the global trend towards a shift of telecom operators towards the LTE standard and the pace of release of previously occupied frequency ranges, then in the future we can expect the emergence of a common frequency range in different countries and regions of the world. This means that the problem of developing a universal LTE smartphone may become somewhat simpler and its creation is only a matter of time. Let's hope this happens very soon.

4G LTE is expensive

Like the 3G standard in its time, the new 4G is also not yet democratic in tariff setting. Cheap 4G LTE is not yet offered, so users have to pay more for speed and performance. However, LTE really gets expensive if you don't pay attention to the amount of data you download or transfer.

LTE smartphones on sale

In addition to the mentioned iPhone 5, which Apple will begin selling on September 21 this year, several more smartphones can work with LTE networks: HTC One XL, Samsung Galaxy S II LTE, LG Optimus True HD LTE and the Galaxy Note LTE. Also, LG Optimus G and Galaxy S3 LTE should go on sale soon.

LTE technology news

In our country, the 4G LTE standard is still only a prospect, and not the closest one at that. However, for those who often travel abroad, there are plenty of opportunities to experience all the benefits of LTE. The growing popularity of this communication standard is also evidenced by the fact that new iPhone 5 from Apple is released in three versions at once various options, each of which is designed for a specific LTE frequency range. So model A1428 (GSM) iPhone 5 supports LTE only in the USA and Canada and operates at a frequency of 700MHz. The A1429 (CDMA) model is aimed at the networks of US operators Sprint and Verizon, as well as the Japanese KDDI.

And finally, A1429 (GSM) iPhone 5 operates at frequencies of 850 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz and is the most universal, since these are the frequencies used for LTE communications in many countries around the world (except the USA and Canada). The Apple support site states that the A1429 (GSM) is compatible with LTE in Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, Korea, Japan, Singapore and the UK. In other words, this means that if you live in Ukraine and often visit Europe, then when ordering iPhone 5 from other countries, choose A1429 (GSM). Accordingly, for those who visit the United States more often, it is better to buy the A1428 (GSM) iPhone 5. Also, do not forget that such a regional distinction applies only to the LTE specifics of the devices; in 3G networks, each of them will work in any region of the planet.

Samsung may acquire Nokia Siemens Networks(August 3, 2012)
The South Korean corporation Samsung is exploring the possibility of acquiring one of the largest manufacturers of universal equipment for NSN communication networks. According to independent analysts and experts, the amount of this transaction could be fifty-five billion dollars. An official representative of the NSN company stated that the interest of Samsung Corporation management relates to the mass supply and global production of equipment for unique wireless networks mobile communications.

It should be recalled that today there are not many mobile companies in the world capable of making this purchase, and in the international operator equipment market only Ericsson or Huawei corporations would be able to afford such an asset. However, such a financial transaction does not fit into the strategic policy of Ericsson, and the second corporation already has a similar infrastructure. It should be mentioned that a Chinese corporation is being considered as a potential buyer of NSN. As for the South Korean manufacturer of mobile equipment, Samsung previously produced branded stations for the WiMAX model, but this service lost its leading position to innovative LTE technology.