Samsung Set to Demo 4G Wireless

The firm claims that it has achieved mobile data speed of 100 megabits per second and fixed-point speed of 1 gigabit per second with its latest technology.

Feel the 4G

Its demonstration will include use of the advanced wireless technology on a moving bus, the firm said, to allow observers to witness the technology performing at its fastest possible transmission speed.

The so-called 4G technology is capable of transferring 100 MP3 files in less than 2.5 seconds, and can download a movie in 5.6 seconds, Samsung said.

"We are proud to demonstrate 4G technology for the first time at Samsung 4G Forum," said Samsung Telecommunications Network Business President Ki Tae Lee. "We hope to drive development and standardization of 4G mobile technology with the successful demonstration and realize our dream to begin the 4G era."

A Few Years Off

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards body defines 4G as a "future wireless telecommunications technology" allowing data transfer rates of 1 Gbps in nomadic, non-moving settings and 100 Mbps while moving.

However, wireless spectrums for 4G have yet to be determined, and a mobile communications format for 4G is not expected until 2010 or so.

Samsung, which described the 4G demo as "a step up" from its WiMax demonstration of a year ago, may be getting somewhat ahead of itself as the WiMax standard has not yet been finalized, either, Ovum Vice President of Wireless Telecoms Roger Entner told TechNewsWorld.

Wireless Evolution

What's more, while the data transfer speeds involved in Samsung's demonstration may be impressive, today's top 3G wireless technology is not far behind, according to Entner.

Samsung's moves may help determine whether and how WiMax fits into 4G, but the transition to the newer wireless technology will not be extraordinary, Gartner (NYSE: IT) Research Director Phil Redman agreed.

"Early 4G is going to be like early 3G was, it's not that big of a change," he told TechNewsWorld.