4G is the fourth generation of wireless communications standards. 4G technology provides high-speed, secure solutions for mobile Internet access, telephone services, streamed multimedia and gaming.
- In wireless cellular phone networks, radio towers pick up signals from handsets and connect them to the telephone system. First-generation or 1G cell phones used insecure analog signals between the handset and the radio towers. Developed in the 1980s, they allowed voice communication only and there was no single recognized standard.
- The first digitally encrypted cellular telephones became commercially available in Finland in 1991. As well as a more secure voice technology, second-generation phones could transmit and receive data such as text messages.
- New third-generation standards for mobile telecommunications came into effect from 2000 onwards. The standards specify that 3G services must allow simultaneous speech and data transfers and peak data rates of at least 200 kilobits per second. Mobile Internet access and video calls became possible, followed by mobile broadband service to laptops and advanced mobile phones.
- A cellular system claiming to be fourth-generation must provide high-speed data transfers in both mobile and stationary situations. The International Telecommunication Union defined specific standards in October 2010. Although several carriers claim to have 4G systems, as of November 2010 none of them complies with the latest specification
