I won’t argue about the curvature of the arms - this is of course very important. But facts are also stubborn things. About 4 years ago I purchased two Ziljian ZBT crash bars 16" and 18" (B8 alloy). The thicker 18" one is still alive, thank God, but the thinner 16" one with a good sound died exactly two years later (as indicated manufacturer on the packaging). I buy a new 16" (exactly the same), but it no longer lasts 2 years, but only 1 year. I buy another one of the same kind and, like a dog, it also lives for about a year, and it didn’t burst along the edge (as usual) , and in the middle of the field. With all this, we used to rehearse for 3-4 hours 2 times a week, but over time we switched to 1 time a week for a maximum of 3 hours. Are your hands also getting crooked? In fact, I think the quality has dropped a lot. So I decided to try changing the manufacturer.
23.09.16 15:06:14
Brass crash Amati lived 15 years, nickel silver Trowa cymbal lived 40 years, bronze ride (B8) Amati lived 20 years, bronze (B8) Leningrad hi-hat lived 30 years, B20 STAGG ride lived 15 years, Paiste PST 5 crash (B8) lived 12 years. And so on. What lives longer is a question only for the drummer. :)
Actually, I only broke one plate with my own hands, which was 25 years old. And only one Soviet plastic failed, the rest simply fell into disrepair, sagging. I play from metalcore, thrash and punk, to pop and folk music.
23.09.16 19:40:28
In my Paiste 2002 set there are cymbals that are over 10 years old and still intact (ugh ugh ugh)
and here's what else - budget cymbals, in which the sound is not structurally incorporated, last less, because young and inexperienced musicians beat the sound out of them, trying to make them sound at least somehow
23.09.16 20:57:39
Greetings! In addition to the wrong blow, which is the sin of many metallurgical rockers, who think that the sound must be knocked out of the cymbals, One more most important factor This is a plate setup. Under no circumstances should crashes be delayed too long!!! The plate should swing freely!!! Even the top plate of the high hat! Well, again, correct sound extraction! And the conversation about whether bi 8 or bi 20 is better is absolutely nothing. We need to start with at least the difference in price. And we don’t even have to talk about sound. That's such a big difference.
24.09.16 09:17:59
Thanks everyone for the answers! I never attached any importance to this, but now, having specifically asked myself this question and scoured the Internet, I have no choice but to agree with you, colleagues. I play on at the moment 5 years, but I didn’t know such things. Live forever and learn! Thank you all so much again!!!
By the way, anyone who wants to add anything else on the topic is welcome! I'll read it with pleasure.
25.09.16 01:45:05
colleague afanasiev writes:
Professional plates only at 20.
Especially the penny stagg, tempo and other kitayva. And also “buy a set for the price of a normal ride” from the Turks. And, as noted above, 2002, rud, giant beat is the lot of never-beginners, like the top Meinl from B8/B10/B12. The question of alloy is a matter of taste, but not price.
26.09.16 09:45:53
colleague afanasiev writes:
Of course, it’s a matter of taste, which a beginner has not yet formed, which is why he allows himself to be convinced that the B8 is also a professional hardware.
as Primus wrote above, the Paiste 2002, RUDE and Giant Beat cymbals are made from CuSn8 alloy, in other words B8 and this is professional iron.
26.09.16 18:28:11
Cymbals made from B8-based alloys are generally more durable. The amount of tin in the alloy affects not only the sound, but also the strength.
But there is an important nuance - you need to look at specific series of plates and their thickness.
With a "power" style of play, a professional HEAVY CRASH from B20 will most likely live longer than a budget THIN CRASH from B8.
And the fact that B8 is an alloy for non-professionals - many have already said that this is not true.
Most PAISTE series are made from B8, which does not make, for example, the 2002 series any less professional.
26.09.16 21:49:09
colleague afanasiev writes:
What is there to think about? B8 cymbals are for beginner drummers who have not yet fully decided whether they will quit playing tomorrow or the day after. Professional plates only at 20.
15 years on 2002 from alloy B8... Ippat, I'm an undecided beginner sucker. This Monday has begun))))
26.09.16 22:41:21
I don’t want to offend anyone, especially the owners of alloy B8 cymbals; if this happened, then I apologize. For me personally, the B8 topic has been closed for a long time. And I sincerely don’t understand what’s good about PAISTE 2002 plates. And I never have. IMHO PAISTE has cymbals that sound much nicer. I also understand those “old” drummers who bought 2002 in those distant 80-90s, when Amati was considered good hardware. And now they regret parting with them. And the ear got used to it. And you can’t sell them to anyone at a high price. And the memory of my younger years warms my soul. But now, when the choice of cymbals is huge, and you can try hardware for every taste, I personally cannot speak seriously about the beauty of the sound of the 2002 series.
Once again, sorry if I offended anyone. This is simply the personal opinion of a professional sound engineer, who also plays drums for 28 years, but, unfortunately, still does not consider himself a professional drummer.
27.09.16 07:33:10
colleague afanasiev writes:
But now, when the choice of cymbals is huge, and you can try hardware for every taste, I personally cannot speak seriously about the beauty of the sound of the 2002 series.
For hard rock they haven't come up with anything better yet.
colleague afanasiev writes:
This is just the personal opinion of a professional sound engineer, who also plays drums for 28 years
Then you should know that the 2002 is one of the most versatile plates with a top (sand). that fit well into the mix. Unlike the new series of the same zilds and pasties (which sound very good) they don’t hang the “I’m a signyche series” egg out of the mix. Zilds have similar properties to "K", but they are much brighter.
27.09.16 08:17:47
colleague afanasiev writes:
And I honestly don't understand what's so good about PAISTE 2002 plates.
colleague Burunduk writes:
15 years on 2002 from alloy B8... Ippat, I'm an undecided beginner sucker. This Monday has begun))))
yeah... I'm also the same sucker... well, sobssssssssssss, like Ian Pace and Alex Van Halen
27.09.16 08:52:03
Well, we've gone off topic again about which is better - iOS or Android, nothing changes. The original question was about the survivability of the plates, and not the superiority of some manufacturers/alloys/colors/sizes over others. Allow me to insert my two cents. Dear Topicstarter, I would pay attention to the sales section, at least within this forum. Approximately see how many crashes and teas cut in a circle are on B8, and how many on B20. Of course, this is a very inaccurate indicator. But still. I agree with what was said above about the overly forced game. If you want to chop trash with oak sticks 2B, then it is better to select pieces of iron that are not the thinnest of the jazz series, although here the captain of obviousness already enters the scene.
27.09.16 13:52:18
Dear kullervo, can you tell me how I can optimize my search in the sales section? What should I enter into the site’s search engine and what should I pay attention to to summarize? As of today, there are 319 pages in the forum in the kpl/prdam section - somehow voluminous... Or did I misunderstand you?
27.09.16 17:07:05
Bulky is not the right word, but very few things are served on a silver-rimmed saucer these days. I didn’t say that it would be easy =)) Here’s the thing - is there really an irresistible desire to find out what kind of plates are less brittle or just to hear the common phrase take %the name of any brand% they are awesome because they play %the name of a cool guy Drummer%, or another option, “the brand is nothing, the hands are everything,” I more than agree with the last statement, but my innate curiosity pushes me into the arms of mild insanity. In both cases, this is not an answer to the original question. But in order to really determine which iron is more durable, you need to conduct a normal experiment, and who can boast that they actually used a couple of hundred plates before they were slaughtered (and such a quantity for a good sample is nothing at all, we omit unnecessary details about the delivered blow , random and not very defective and other factors that will contribute to the test). But if you look at the average temperature in the hospital, that is, compare someone’s already broken iron, then you can get at least some picture.
27.09.16 17:53:39
colleague kullervo writes:
But to really determine which iron is more durable, you need to conduct a normal experiment, and who can boast that they actually used a couple of hundred plates before they were slaughtered
As not only a drummer, but also the owner of a commercial rep base with an 8-year history, I can say some of my observations. I provide all clients with their own hardware. Initially I used Paist 2002 exclusively.
So crashes - there were three 14-inch ones, each lasted about 8 months in public use. 15-inch ones - there was one, 4 months. 16 inches were medium and power, 6 pieces, 3 of each - 6-7 months. 17 inches - 1 piece, 5 months.
Hi-hats - two crunches, 15 and 14 inches, a year and a half each, 1 heavy, second hand - a year, a new soundage - 1.5 years.
Ride - 1 piece, 22 inches heavy ride - 15 years (7 in personal and 8 in base))))).
Teas are 16 and 18 inches, three Wilds are 11 months each, 4 mediums are 11-13 months.
Oh, and a couple more Ores - tea 18 from hand, a year old, cut off, still holding to the norm for six months. Het - 3rd year, everything is fine
Istanbul Mehmet and Agop traditional, alloy B20 - hat 14th - 7 years, still alive.
Ride - 5 years old, they broke up when they started crashing for six months.
There are countless crashes, probably 20 of them, 16, 17 and 18 inches, none lasted more than 3 months, on average 2 months.
Zildzhan A custom, three crashes, one 15th and two 16th, all medium - 4-5 months.
Sabian AA, AAH, NN, NNH. Hat NN medium - 8 years old, crack in top.
Ride 20 NN medium - 10 years old, still alive.
Hat AA rock - 3 years old, alive.
HHH 16th evolution crashes are the most fragile - 4 months maximum, 3 pieces. NHH studio and NHH stage, 16th, two each - 8 months, the latter is still alive. AA rock crash 16th - two pieces, I sell before they break, but it easily lasts 8 months. AAHsplouzhn 16 - 5-6 months, 5 pieces. AAH studio 18th, 2 pieces, 8 months, the second one lasts more than 10 months. NN medium 16th year, 18th dark bank, therefore 5th year alive.
China AA 18th - two years, 16th one and a half years. NHH mini 14 and 16 are also fragile, 2 and 4 months, respectively.1
| № | Operator | Channel width, MHz | Duplex type | 3GPP number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yota (Megafon) | 2500-2530 / 2620-2650 | 30 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 2 | Megaphone | 2530-2540 / 2650-2660 | 10 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 3* | Megaphone | 2575-2595 | 20 | TDD | Band 38 |
| 4 | MTS | 2540-2550 / 2660-2670 | 10 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 5* | MTS | 2595-2615 | 20 | TDD | Band 38 |
| 6 | Beeline | 2550-2560 / 2670-2680 | 10 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 7 | Rostelecom/Tele2 | 2560-2570 / 2680-2690 | 10 | FDD | Band 7 |
| 8** | Rostelecom/Tele2 | 832-839.5 / 791-798.5 | 7.5 | FDD | Band 20 |
| 9** | MTS | 839.5-847 / 798.5-806 | 7.5 | FDD | Band 20 |
| 10** | Megaphone | 847-854.5 / 806-813.5 | 7.5 | FDD | Band 20 |
| 11** | Beeline | 854.5-862 / 813.5-821 | 7.5 | FDD | Band 20 |
| 12*** | MTS | 2595-2620 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 |
| 13 | Tele2 | 453-457.4 / 463-467.4 | 4.4 | FDD | Band 31 |
* - frequencies are allocated only for use in Moscow and the Moscow region.
** - the allocated channel width (7.5 MHz) does not correspond to the standard ones. You can use 5 MHz of them, for example, or you can negotiate with a “neighboring” operator and, by combining the two ranges, get a completely standard channel width of 15 MHz. And then use it using RAN Sharing technology.
*** - with the exception of the territory of Moscow, the Moscow region, the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
Below are pictures with the distribution of frequencies between operators. List of launched LTE networks in Russia. Phones with 4G
On October 6, 2015, an auction of frequencies in the 1800 MHz range took place. Information about the lots is in the table below.
| № | Operator | Region | Frequency range (UL/DL), MHz | Channel width, MHz | Duplex type | 3GPP number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Megaphone | Rep. Dagestan | 1740-1755 / 1835-1850 | 15 | FDD | Band 3 | 1060,164 |
| 2 | Megaphone | Karachay-Cherkess Republic | 1755-1768,8 / 1850-1863,8 | 13,8 | FDD | Band 3 | 200.344 |
| 3 | MTS | Rep. North Ossetia-Alania | 1748,2-1755 / 1843,2-1850 1764,6-1769,8 / 1859,6-1864,8 |
6.8 and 5.2 | FDD | Band 3 | 275,890 |
| 4 | VimpelCom (Beeline) | Stavropol region | 1710,1-1723,8 / 1805,1-1818,8 | 13,7 | FDD | Band 3 | 1701,327 |
| 5 | MTS | Orenburg region | 1725-1727,8 / 1820-1822,8 1748,4-1755 / 1843,4-1850 |
2.8 and 6.6 | FDD | Band 3 | 587,627 |
| 6 | MTS | Perm region (except Komi-Permyak district) | 1727-1735 / 1822-1830 1750-1751,8 / 1845-1846,8 1769-1770 / 1864-1865 |
8, 1.8 and 1 | FDD | Band 3 | 744,604 |
| 7 | Tele2 | Samara region | 1762,4-1770 / 1857,4-1865 | 7,6 | FDD | Band 3 | 1082,840 |
| 8 | MTS | Komi-Permyak district of Perm region | 1769-1770 / 1864-1865 | 1 | FDD | Band 3 | 0,545 |
| 9 | VimpelCom (Beeline) | Rep. Buryatia | 1755-1768,6 / 1850-1863,6 1769,6-1770 / 1864,6-1865 |
13.6 and 0.4 | FDD | Band 3 | 326,094 |
| 10 | MTS | Amur region | 1725-1729,6 / 1820-1824,6 1746,4-1755 / 1841,4-1850 |
4.6 and 8.6 | FDD | Band 3 | 303,349 |
Tattelecom also has frequencies in the 1800 MHz range (Band 3) in Tatarstan.
In addition to the frequencies shown in the table, operators have other frequencies in the 1800 MHz range. For example, the ones they used/are using for GSM (2G). There are already a number of regions in Russia where LTE networks have been launched in the 1800 MHz range (band 3).
On February 11, 2016, an auction of band 38 frequencies took place. The results of the auction are given below. Lots in the Jewish Autonomous Region and the Magadan Region remained unplayed.
| № | Operator | Region | Frequency range (UL/DL), MHz | Channel width, MHz | Duplex type | 3GPP number | Final price of the lot, million rubles. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beeline | Altai region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 2 | Megaphone | Amur region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 3 | Beeline | Arkhangelsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 4 | Beeline | Astrakhan region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 5 | Megaphone | Belgorod region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 6 | Beeline | Bryansk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 7 | Megaphone | Vladimir region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 8 | Beeline | Volgograd region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 9 | Megaphone | Vologda region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 10 | Beeline | Voronezh region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 11 | Megaphone | St. Petersburg | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 12 | Megaphone | Transbaikal region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 13 | Megaphone | Ivanovo region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 14 | Megaphone | Irkutsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 15 | Beeline | Kabardino-Balkarian Republic | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 16 | Beeline | Kaliningrad region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 17 | Beeline | Kaluga region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 18 | Megaphone | Kamchatka region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 19 | Beeline | Karachay-Cherkess Republic | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 20 | Beeline | Kemerovo region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 21 | Megaphone | Kirov region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 22 | Beeline | Kostroma region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 23 | Beeline | Krasnodar region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 24 | Megaphone | Krasnoyarsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 25 | Motive | Kurgan region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 26 | Beeline | Kursk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 27 | Megaphone | Leningrad region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 28 | Beeline | Lipetsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 29 | Megaphone | Murmansk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 30 | Megaphone | Nenets Autonomous Okrug | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 31 | Megaphone | Nizhny Novgorod region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 32 | Megaphone | Novgorod region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 33 | Megaphone | Novosibirsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 34 | Beeline | Omsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 35 | Megaphone | Orenburg region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 36 | Megaphone | Oryol region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 37 | Megaphone | Penza region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 38 | Beeline | Perm region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 39 | Beeline | Primorsky Krai | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 40 | Beeline | Pskov region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 41 | Beeline | Republic of Adygea | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 42 | Beeline | Altai Republic | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 43 | Beeline | Republic of Bashkortostan | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 44 | Megaphone | Republic of Buryatia | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 45 | Beeline | Republic of Dagestan | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 46 | Megaphone | Republic of Ingushetia | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 47 | Beeline | Republic of Kalmykia | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 48 | Megaphone | Republic of Karelia | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 49 | Megaphone | Komi Republic | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 50 | Megaphone | Republic of Mari El | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 51 | Megaphone | Republic of Mordovia | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 52 | Megaphone | Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 53 | Megaphone | Republic of North Ossetia-Alania | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 54 | Tattelecom | Republic of Tatarstan | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 55 | Megaphone | Republic of Tyva | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 56 | Megaphone | Republic of Khakassia | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 57 | Megaphone | Rostov region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 58 | Megaphone | Ryazan region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 59 | Beeline | Samara region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 60 | Megaphone | Saratov region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 61 | Megaphone | Sakhalin region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 62 | Motive | Sverdlovsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 63 | Beeline | Smolensk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 64 | Beeline | Stavropol region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 65 | Megaphone | Tambov region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 66 | Megaphone | Tver region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 67 | Beeline | Tomsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 68 | Beeline | Tula region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 69 | Motive | Tyumen region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 70 | Megaphone | Udmurt Republic | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 71 | Megaphone | Ulyanovsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 72 | Megaphone | Khabarovsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 73 | Motive | Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug-Yugra | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 74 | Beeline | Chelyabinsk region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 75 | Vainakh Telecom | Chechen Republic | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 76 | Beeline | Chuvash Republic (Chuvashia) | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 77 | Megaphone | Chukotka Autonomous Okrug | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 78 | Motive | Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
| 79 | Beeline | Yaroslavl region | 2570 - 2595 | 25 | TDD | Band 38 | ? |
Despite the fact that LTE is already available in almost all regions of our country, users still have confusion in frequencies (Bands), as well as in the categories of this technology (LTE cat. X). Today I would like to tell you in detail what the differences are between LTE “bands” and LTE categories, as well as which of them are already used in Russia and which may appear in the future.
LTE Bands - 4G technology frequencies
Unlike GSM and UMTS, which have become the standards for 2G and 3G communications, LTE technology can use a much wider range of frequencies. For example, GSM uses only 4 bands 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, and UMTS also adds bands 1900-2200 MHz.
LTE technology, in turn, can operate at frequencies from ultra-low 450 MHz to ultra-high 5 GHz, and moreover, it can combine several bands into one channel using LTE Advanced technology, but we’ll talk about it a little later.
In total, there are 70 LTE “bands”, which differ from each other in frequency and some other parameters, but today I will focus only on those that are used in Russia.
Currently, Russian operators use 5 bands:
- 3 in the 1800 MHz FDD band;
- 7 in the 2600 MHz FDD band;
- 20 in the 800 MHz FDD band;
- 31 in the 450 MHz FDD band;
- 38 in the 2600 MHz TDD band.
You may have noticed that despite the same frequency range of 2600 MHz in bands 7 and 38, they differ in the designations FDD and TDD. Now I will try to explain what the difference is.
In general, the end user may not notice this difference, but technologically FDD and TDD networks are fundamentally different in this way. When using FDD (Frequency Division Duplex), incoming and outgoing traffic are separated by frequency, that is, data is downloaded at one frequency and downloaded at another. When using TDD (Time Division Duplex), both loading and unloading of data are carried out at the same frequency, only alternately.
From the operator’s point of view, it is more profitable to have a TDD network, since it only needs 1 frequency range for both loading and uploading. From the user's point of view, theoretically, it is more profitable to work in an FDD network, since upstream and downstream traffic goes separately and does not interfere with each other. But in practice, as I noted earlier, the difference will be rather unnoticeable.
As for the differences between the other bands, it is worth noting their range, penetration and capacity. Without going into details, the lower the frequency, the higher the range and the better the ability to pass through urban areas, but less capacity the network itself and, accordingly, the speed in it.
Band 31 in Russia is currently used only by the operator Tele2, which sells LTE-450 equipment under the Skylink brand. As the operator himself writes, this technology is popular in the most remote and sparsely populated areas with poor coverage of other mobile networks. The range of the LTE-450 base station can cover a radius of up to 20 km, which is 5-6 times greater than that of the LTE-2600 standard base station. It is worth noting that this band is not supported by smartphones; only special modems and routers work with it.
The Big Three widely use 3, 7, 20 and 38 bands in Russia, and combine them depending on several factors. The higher the population density and its activity, the higher the frequency required, since it is necessary to ensure high capacity and good speed . In the centers of megalopolises, in business districts, in places with high tourist activity, 3, 7 and 38 bands are usually used. In regions where population density and infrastructure investment are lower, Band 20 is used, since in it the base station can cover a fairly large radius (up to 13.4 km) with good penetration into buildings, while the speed does not suffer, since there is much more Fewer users need LTE. But band20 is mainly used either in completely sparsely populated areas or in large cities as an additional range. That is, even if your device does not support band20, you will not be left without 4G, since the territory will additionally have band 3-7-38 coverage.
There is another important factor - the availability of certain frequencies in certain regions by certain operators. Here the operator adapts not only to the specifics of the location, but also to its portfolio of frequencies. The frequencies themselves were raffled off among operators at auctions that were held in our country several times.
It is also worth noting that Band 3, operating in the 1800 MHz range, is also the frequency at which 2G/3G communications operate. That is, the wider the channel the operator wants to give for LTE, the narrower it will become for 2G/3G networks, which the majority of Russian subscribers continue to use. Naturally, it is too early to talk about a significant refactoring of networks at 1800 MHz, but this is the inevitable future, because the share of 2G/3G gadgets in relation to 4G devices will gradually fall.
LTE-Advanced or what happens if you combine several Bands
When it comes to LTE Advanced, the text often contains designations like LTE cat.4, LTE cat.6 or LTE cat. 9. Let's try to figure out what they mean, but first, what is called "on the fingers", I will explain what it means general outline introduces LTE Advanced.
LTE Advanced is a technology that allows you to combine several carrier frequency bands into one channel. So, for example, an operator that uses LTE Advanced takes 1.4-20 MHz from one range, combines them into one “pipe” with 1.4-20 MHz from another range, and the output is an aggregated LTE Advanced standard. Today, it is theoretically possible to combine 5 carriers with a maximum bandwidth of 20 MHz, which gives an impressive 100 MHz output, but this is just a theory. Now let's see what happens in practice.
The first operator in Russia to use LTE Advanced on its network was Yota, while still an independent operator. This happened on October 9, 2012, but the operator was so far ahead of its time that the launch turned out to be formal, since there were no modems supporting LTE Advanced at that time, and Yota did not offer SIM cards for smartphones and tablets.
MegaFon was the first to carry out a real commercial launch in the spring of 2014. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the operator combined two 20 MHz carriers into Band 7, obtaining a theoretically available 300 Mbit/s and a network corresponding to the LTE cat category. 6.
In 2015, MegaFon set its sights on LTE cat. 9 with speeds of up to 450 Mbit/s, which combined 2 20 MHz carriers from Band 7 and another 20 MHz carrier from Band 3. However, the matter did not go further than testing, since in order to use such a large channel width in Band 3 ( 1800 MHz) it was necessary to significantly reduce the capacity of the operator’s 2G network.
Beeline, unlike MegaFon, does not have a large number of available frequencies, so its launch of LTE Advanced was somewhat more modest. At the end of the summer of 2014 in Moscow, the “stripe” operator combined Band 7 and Band 20 with a width of 10 MHz and 5 MHz, respectively, obtaining the maximum possible speed of 112.5 Mbit/s and a network corresponding to the LTE cat category. 4. After this, during tests, the operator added a third carrier at 20 MHz from Band 3, achieving a maximum speed of 250 Mbit/s, but such a network was not put into commercial operation. The thing is that 20 MHz in the 1800 MHz range is everything accessible Beeline band that is used by the GSM network, and its refactoring to 4G would lead to a triple reduction in the capacity of the existing 2G network.
MTS, in turn, launched the first LTE Advanced network in mid-2015, combining 2 5 MHz bands from Band 3 and 1 5 MHz band from Band 38, which became a problem for most non-top smartphones, since the aggregation of unequal spectrum bands Only flagship devices support different bands. But in MTS, depending on the region, another aggregation is used, which is supported by a wider range of gadgets.
To date, the most fast network MTS has in Bashkortostan, where aggregation of three carriers 1800+2600+800 MHz with a total bandwidth of up to 35 MHz (20+10+5) is used, which allows achieving speeds of up to 260 Mbit/s. But such a network, despite three carriers, corresponds only to the LTE cat category. 4., since the speed does not reach 300 Mbit/s.
To find out more about which operator in your region already supports LTE Advanced, enter search bar Google or Yandex search for “LTE Advanced in [your city]” and you will probably find news that will answer this question. If you don’t find it, as happened to me (Kursk), then no one has launched such a network in your region yet. As for coverage maps on operator websites, information about LTE Advanced is currently only provided by MegaFon.
As can be seen from all of the above, MegaFon has an advantage in frequencies and successfully uses it. Other operators, having a more modest portfolio of frequencies, are looking at the LTE-U (LTE Unlicensed) standard, which I will discuss below.
LTE-U - the future without licenses, but with restrictions
As I mentioned earlier, LTE technology is unique in that it can operate in different bands from ultra-low to ultra-high, including the 5 GHz band. This frequency is unlicensed, that is, uncontrolled by the state, and modern Wi-Fi routers operate on it.
LTE-U (Unlicensed) is a kind of mixture of the familiar Wi-Fi and the fourth generation mobile network, which are compatible with each other. The bottleneck of LTE-U, like Wi-Fi, is the short range of the base station, which makes this technology only suitable for indoor use, such as office buildings and shopping centers. But the unlicensed nature of 5 GHz is an advantage of the technology, since the operator can install its own base stations and cover any premises with an LTE-U network without additional approvals from government agencies.
LTE-U does not exist in isolation, but as an addition to LTE and LTE-Advanced, that is, a user device can simultaneously operate in several LTE bands using LTE-A and at the same time use LTE-U resources, combining all networks into a single one channel, which allows you to achieve peak speeds of 1 Gbit/s.
Moreover, Link Aggregation technology is supported, with which you can add speed to your smartphone using your home Wi-Fi. That is, while at home, using LTE-U you can combine the operator’s LTE network and home Wi-Fi into a single LTE Unlicensed network, which will use all of the above channels simultaneously for data transmission.
At the moment, Beeline and MTS have expressed interest in LTE-U, which plan to deploy the first LTE-U networks already this year 2017. But there are no smartphones on the market yet that support this technology, although similar devices should go on sale soon. It is worth noting that Russia does not lag behind other countries, since not a single LTE Unlicensed network has yet been launched in the world.
Conclusion
Today you learned about the basic terms associated with fourth generation networks, as well as the situation with LTE in Russia. I hope that I was able to explain such complex things in simple words. I will note at the end that I deliberately did not go deep into the theory and loaded you unnecessary information, which most would not be interested in.
If you want to know anything else about Russian operators, their technologies and networks, you can leave your suggestion in the comments and perhaps I will talk about it in one of the following articles.
Mobile access to the Internet is an area characterized by the highest dynamics in the implementation of new technological solutions and standards. For example, quite recently 3G Internet was considered one of the most advanced channels. Today, experts say that 4G technology will be the flagship of the mobile industry.
There are quite a lot of specific implementations of it. But LTE technology has become one of the most popular in the world, which is also being actively implemented by Russian operators. What are its features?
What is LTE
The LTE standard, also called 4G, is among the most modern and promising technologies capable of providing quick access to the Internet and other services provided by cellular operators. LTE infrastructure - at least this is what market experts expect - is designed to replace communication networks operating within the framework of 3G standards. Key Benefits new technology- incomparably higher speed and stability of the connection.
Subscribers of cellular operators can, thanks to the advantages of this standard, expand their capabilities in terms of collective Internet use. The fact is that, for example, when distributing access to the network based on 3G technology via Wi-Fi, everyone who wanted to connect simply did not have enough channel speed. With LTE, the WiFi infrastructure should be more efficient. For comparison: in most 3G networks the access speed does not exceed 7-8 Mbit/sec. In turn, the declared indicator of some Russian cellular operators when using LTE is 100 Mbit/sec.
Distribution of LTE in Russia
Since the communications standard in question is quite new, Russian operators have not yet managed to implement it in all regions of the country. However, communication networks that use LTE technology are built by suppliers mobile services very active. Now not only subscribers of the capital and largest cities, but also residents of Russian regions quite remote from megacities can take advantage of this communications standard.
LTE reviews
Actually, what do subscribers themselves say about their experience of using the new technology? First of all, most owners of mobile devices that support the LTE standard are impressed by the fact that they do not have to overpay for the ability to use the Internet within the framework of the standard in question. Unless you may have to purchase a device capable of operating in LTE mode. In general, according to many subscribers, the new technology meets expectations. The speed of Internet access is indeed higher than when working with 3G and 4G standards.
The stability of the connection also does not cause any complaints from users in most cases. While when using traditional channels mobile access There is a loss of connection to the network quite regularly (especially if not computers are used, but smartphones, tablets - i.e. purely wireless devices) of communication.
There are, however, some comments regarding the not very wide coverage area where the LTE standard operates. But this is obviously a temporary phenomenon. Once upon a time, the 3G standard was available only to residents of certain areas. Experts believe that the pace of LTE infrastructure deployment will be stable in the near future.
LTE operators
The new technology is now already supported by the largest Russian mobile operators - Megafon, Beeline, MTS, Tele2, Yota (considered an independent market player). Rostelecom is also actively developing LTE. The main advantage of the communication standard under consideration is representatives Russian market are called high compatibility with the existing infrastructure within which 3G networks operate. That is, it is possible to introduce a new technology without resorting to forced disconnections of subscribers from certain services. In addition, Russian LTE frequencies are such that devices that only support the 3G standard can operate in them. There is thus a new technology with the previous ones.
Actually, about frequencies. Which of them are most often used by Russian and global mobile service providers? Why might this be interesting? The fact is that the prospects for mastering the latest communication technology, as well as the speed of its implementation, according to analysts, depend on the resource determined by the frequency spectrum available to the operator. The specifics of Russian mobile networks are such that the shortage of necessary frequencies can be felt quite acutely by mobile service providers. But that's not all. The situation is somewhat complicated by the fact that the lower frequency spectrum is very actively used by law enforcement agencies, as well as navigation systems.
Now a significant part Russian operators operates within a single range. However, market requirements are such that suppliers mobile communications You will need at least one more lane to organize channels. LTE networks require more capacity. In addition, as subscribers connect to operators and use the capabilities of new communication technology in different modes - in an apartment, in a car, outside the city, in a park - the supplier needs to have a resource for quickly redistributing traffic and optimizing it from the point of view of subscriber activity. If the provider has only one frequency band at its disposal, this is problematic, and as a result, the quality of the corresponding services may decrease.
Frequency spectrum of LTE networks
There are now more than 200 networks operating in the world based on this communication technology. What frequencies does LTE operate on most often? Experts believe that this is the 1800 MHz range - it is the most frequently used in the world. According to some analysts, it is used by more than 40% of modern commercial operators. At the same time, there are other popular channels. Thus, in particular, LTE corresponding to 2.6 GHz is widespread. No less popular is the one characterized by a figure of 800 MHz. True, in the Russian Federation its use is considered promising. We'll find out why later.
What are the most frequently used LTE frequencies in Russia now? Actually, the most popular is the already mentioned 2.6 GHz band. In particular, the capital's MTS operates there. LTE frequencies in some regions are used in the 2.3 GHz range; there are prospects for developing channels at 450 and 900 MHz - we will talk about them separately. According to experts, the use of low-frequency resources is especially promising in regions with low population density. The reason is that in this case it is possible to build small containers.
Why does frequency matter?
We noted above that there are cases in which it is sometimes more expedient to use the lower LTE frequencies in Russia than the upper ones - this applies to regions in which subscribers are spread over a large area. What other patterns can be identified that reflect the specifics of using certain ranges?
Let us note, for example, the fact that a frequency of 1800 MHz, according to experts, is much more economically profitable for the operator. About 60%. If the operator has the opportunity to operate on this frequency, then the speed of construction of the necessary infrastructure can increase significantly. In addition, in some cases, building networks in the 800-900 MHz range can be even cheaper.
More frequencies - better service
The ideal option is if LTE frequencies in Russia are available to operators at all levels. The work of the communication provider in this case, as experts note, will be most effective. On the one hand, it will be possible to serve large areas; on the other hand, it will be possible to provide the required signal density by placing in the region required quantity base stations, or auxiliary infrastructure elements, such as femtocells. Actually, we have already noted above that the resource in the form of several frequencies directly determines the quality of the operator’s provision of the corresponding services.
The department allowed
Do Russian telecom operators have a resource about which we're talking about? According to analysts, there is. In the summer of 2014, the State Commission on Radio Frequencies approved the use of very promising frequencies by mobile service providers - 450, 890-915 MHz, as well as 935-960 MHz. Russian operators can use this resource throughout the country. Thus, suppliers have at their disposal - in addition to the high frequencies that we indicated above - lower ranges. This will help accelerate the deployment of advanced communications infrastructure in Russia, as well as improve the quality of related services for subscribers.
Among other notable initiatives of the department is a possible permission to hold a specialized auction between mobile communication providers for the possibility of using additional frequencies - in the range of 2570-2620 MHz. True, as some experts note, the State Commission will probably prefer to study trends in the international 4G technology market before doing so.
Before the corresponding initiative of the department, one of the permitted frequency ranges - 900 MHz - could be used by operators to provide services using GSM technology, that is, within the framework of the second generation standard, 2G. Now the largest Russian communication providers - MTS, Beeline, Megafon - can, from a technological point of view, use LTE frequencies in this range.
We also note that before permission was received to use the 900 MHz frequency within the new standard, operators had the opportunity to work with a different range (in 2G mode) - 1800 MHz. However, most experts classify it as high. That is, as noted above, it is not very advisable to use it in regions where the population density is low. In order for the infrastructure within the new communication standard to actively develop not only in large cities, operators needed low bands. The high LTE frequencies in Moscow, which we outlined at the beginning of the article, no longer allowed mobile operators to count on active expansion into neighboring regions.
LTE frequencies: theory and practice
Let's consider what are the real resources for using the mentioned technology by the largest Russian operators today. Let's study what LTE frequencies MTS, Beeline, and Megafon have at their disposal and compare them with those available to their strong competitors. We can consider the reserves of service providers in relation to the ranges in which they are entitled to provide services, subject, of course, to having a license. In practice, thanks to the decision of the State Commission on Radio Frequencies, operators can use the majority of licensed frequencies.
Frequencies predetermine competition
Let's start with one of the newest Russian operators - Yota. It is considered an independent market player, despite the fact that Megafon owns 100% of the brand's shares. Regarding frequency availability, Yota can operate in the 2.6 GHz band. At the same time, as experts note, this operator actually provides services as a virtual supplier. The real owners of the infrastructure channels used are Megafon, and also, as some analysts believe, MTS.
In turn, Megafon itself can technologically launch LTE networks in 3 bands - 700, 800, and 2600 MHz. True, this operator is only able to use some high-frequency channels in Moscow and the region. But experts note that Megafon most likely will not have problems with resources for further infrastructure development. This mobile operator is one of the first in the Russian Federation to introduce LTE networks into commercial operation.
What LTE frequencies does MTS use in Russia? In principle, this operator has no smaller range of available bands when compared with those of Megafon. MTS can operate at frequencies of 700, 800, 1800, and 2600 MHz. At the same time, as in the case of Megafon, some channels on high-frequency bands can be used by the operator only in the capital and the Moscow region.
What LTE frequencies does Beeline use? Their range is also quite wide. The operator has at its disposal the ranges of 700, 800, and 2600 MHz. Almost the same opportunities exist for Rostelecom, which is no less actively involved in developing the new market. There is another promising LTE operator in Russia - Osnova Telecom. It can operate at 2.3 GHz.
The history of the development of the promising LTE market by Tele2 is interesting. For a long time this brand was not present in the segment under consideration. However, in December 2014, the company nevertheless launched the LTE infrastructure. And she did it in Tula. Experts call Tele2's experience somewhat unique. The point is that this mobile operator uses a range quite rarely used by other Russian suppliers - 1800 MHz. Tele2's entry into the LTE arena, experts believe, will significantly increase competition in this segment of mobile services.
In addition to the 1800 MHz range, the company also has the technical ability to use the 450 MHz frequency, which, as we noted above, is now allowed in Russia for LTE networks. By the way, the very procedure for the appearance of the low range at the disposal of Tele2 is also quite interesting. Initially, another brand had access to this frequency - Sky Link. However, as a result of the merger of the assets of Tele2 and Rostelecom, it became controlled by the T2 RTK Holding company. Which, in turn, owns the Tele2 brand.
LTE frequencies in Russia are now allowed in a fairly wide range, and this, according to experts, will play a positive role in the development of the mobile industry. This circumstance will also affect the Internet market as a whole. Wireless networks are increasingly competing with broadband access. Russian users, of course, do not lose connections with traditional providers. However, the percentage mobile traffic, according to experts and analysts, has already come close to the indicators characteristic of wired Internet access channels.
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 standard for wireless high-speed data transmission 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 at 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 |
| Tele2 | 2560-2570 / 2680-2690 | 2x10 | FDD | band 7 |
| MTS | 1710-1785 / 1805-1880 | 2x75 | FDD | band 3 |
| Tele2 | 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 at 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. Main feature LTE-Advanced is an aggregation of frequency bands. 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 it is 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.
