The future for 4G LTE Advanced seems
promising. Many carriers are using or
moving to 4G LTE and so should eventually
move to LTE Advanced (as opposed to
WiMax). WiMax is likely to play a more limited
role in 4G’s future.
Many related advances are likely to affect
how 4G (or even futuristic 5G) networks will
be designed, deployed, used, and maintained.
These include advances in smart radio, so a device
can access any available wireless network by
adjusting its frequency, power level, and access
protocols. We’ll also need to address issues related
to network reliability, access, and coverage
(population centers versus rural), as well as the
ability to acquire and effectively use spectrum.
The cost of infrastructure (legacy, existing 3G,
and some 4G infrastructures), user-centered
pricing, explicit QoS for sophisticated applications,
and new business models will also affect
future offerings. The demand for more sophisticated
applications, such as content-rich mobile
commerce, and high-end healthcare applications,
such as mobile telemedicine and wellness
monitoring, will affect the future of 4G and
5G networks.