Advantages of LTE

Advantages of LTE | Disadvantages of LTE | Long Term Evolution

This page covers advantages and disadvantages of LTE (Long Term Evolution). It mentions LTE advantages and LTE disadvantages. LTE stands for Long Term Evolution.

Following are the advantages of LTE:
➨LTE network uses all IP network architecture. Due to this fact, it is dedicated for packet switched operations. It supports data as well voice. The voice can be transported using voice over LTE protocols (i.e. VOIP) and fall-back to legacy networks (i.e. 2G/3G).
➨As LTE supports MIMO, higher data rate can be achieved.
➨LTE uses SC-FDMA in the uplink and hence mobile terminals can have low power during transmissions and hence battery life can be enhanced on user side.
➨As LTE downloads the files faster, connection with network gets released faster for each connection. This will decrease traffic load on the LTE network.
➨LTE uses OFDMA in the downlink, it utilizes channel resources effectively. This increases total user capacity of the LTE network as different users utilize different channels to access the system.
➨It does not take much time for user to open the browser and download high bandwidth movie. This increases user experience to a great extent. This is due to the fact that latency is very low in LTE.
➨Due to improved architecture, handoff is smooth from one region to the other. This results into smooth data streaming without any interruption of on-going data transfer.
➨Higher versions of LTE such as LTE advanced will further improve the performance of existing LTE standard based products.

Disadvantages of LTE

Following are the disadvantages of LTE:
➨The existing mobile phones can not be used to access LTE network features. The user need to have mobile phone which supports LTE functionality. This will incur cost to the user to avail the LTE service.
➨LTE network is completely new network which requires installation of equipments and antennas to make it operational.
➨As LTE service has been recently started, it takes time to get stabilize and have LTE signal available everywhere. At the moment, the service is available in some of the regions or cities. The problem can be avoided by having multimode supported mobile phone, So that user can make use of other networks such as 2G, 3G in case 4G signal is not available.
➨LTE system is complex and hence requires skilled engineers to maintain and manage the system. They need to be paid higher salaries in order to retain them.