LTE Advanced: What is it and why does it matter?

In recent years, wireless technology has evolved rapidly – progressing from 3G all the way to LTE as the mobile communications standard. And in recent months, global carriers – including Bell – have launched LTE Advanced. The latest evolution in LTE technology available, it offers remarkable benefits to users with compatible smartphones.

If you haven’t heard of LTE Advanced, or if you have and you’re simply wondering what it is and why it’s significant, you’ll definitely want to keep reading. This post will break down LTE Advanced so you can understand both what it is, and, most importantly, why you should care about it.

What is LTE Advanced?

First, the “what.” LTE Advanced is, as noted, the latest evolution of the LTE mobile communications standard. And it’s a game changer for consumers that like watching videos, playing games, downloading files, and more.

The best analogy to explain the difference between the LTE and LTE Advanced wireless standards is to think of a highway. The lanes represent the wireless spectrum of a network and you’re the driver on the road consuming data. With LTE Advanced, imagine new lanes get added and your data (i.e. your car) has the ability to move seamlessly between the lanes. Additionally, the new lanes have a higher speed limit. Because our individual data use is increasing with activities like streaming HD videos, downloading files, and leveraging ‘always on’ apps like Waze, it’s easy to see how LTE Advanced delivers meaningful benefits to consumers – especially during rush hour periods. And with most of us relying more and more on our smartphones, it’s becoming even more important to choose a carrier that appreciates the need to deliver faster speeds and to have a better network experience overall.

Bell was the first carrier in North America to launch the latest evolution of LTE Advanced, and Bell’s LTE Advanced technology has a theoretical speed of up to 335 Mbps – the fastest in North America. That’s like a turbo boost for data-intensive activities. Compare that to carriers that max out at a theoretical speed of 150 Mbps on their LTE networks.

So what does this all mean?

Let’s explore three key ways LTE Advanced can help make what you currently do on your smartphone a better experience:

1. Faster download speeds

Say you’re downloading a high-definition movie that’s about 3GB in size. With the previous-generation 3G HSPA network, for example, it might take about 26 minutes to finish. With LTE Advanced, it could be finished in about 4.5 minutes. Why? Because you can put more data through that multi-lane highway than you could on a single roadway with HSPA.

2. Improved buffering

Video buffering happens, and no one likes waiting. But with LTE Advanced, things like Ultra HD video become smoother, potentially eliminating buffering altogether. This can translate into an enhanced video streaming experience that should eliminate any second thoughts you have on whether you should select the higher quality video because the data (i.e. your car) can just switch lanes to one that’s moving faster when the one you are in backs up.

3. Multi-task at your whim

Say you’re streaming music and an email with a large attachment comes in. With LTE Advanced, you likely won’t even notice since the data you’re downloading will seamlessly switch over to another lane without slowing down whatever you’re currently doing on your smartphone.

How you can take advantage of LTE Advanced

Just like some cars have more powerful engines capable of reaching faster speeds, it’s the same for devices. Bell has a large selection from brands like Samsung, Apple, HTC, and LG that are compatible with LTE Advanced. Visit a Bell store or bell.ca to learn more about these devices and Canada’s largest LTE Advanced network.