This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
On the cusp of a new era in telecommunications, the rollout of 5G technology has captured the imagination of many. However, it is 4G technology – LTE – that has been providing critical connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time when communities need it most.
As of 2020, LTE is the network technology used by 52 per cent of the world's mobile devices. This widespread adoption has enabled innovative digital initiatives to support communities during the pandemic.
Henry Calvert, head of the Network 2020 future network programme at the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), emphasized the importance of LTE in the short term. Speaking at the 2020 GSMA LTE Summit, he stated, "Until 2025, LTE will continue to do the heavy lifting. Our 4G networks will remain key... They will continue to be important for the next five-to-seven years."
During the pandemic, LTE has been instrumental in providing telehealth and telemedicine services, expanding network services to hotspots, and supporting the data and connectivity needs of new lifestyles.
According to Calvert, data usage has increased by more than 70 per cent per customer during the pandemic, driven by online services and consumption of on-demand video services like Netflix. In response, there have been calls to reduce video quality to preserve network capacity for online education, health, and businesses.
As the world continues to adapt to the pandemic, 4G networks will remain a priority infrastructure over the short term. While there may be a short-term dip in 5G deployment, Calvert notes that this will quickly recover to normal levels.
