The Orange cellular company surprised everyone this week (Tuesday) by starting to operate the 4G network for its customers (and for customers of its sub-network 012 Mobile). The competing companies may not have been surprised by Orange's quick move, but neither of them really set a date when their customers would be able to connect to the high-speed network.
Pelephone stated: "As soon as we receive the frequency band, in accordance with the Ministry of Communications' decision, we will begin a phased activation of the network, so that subscribers who have fourth-generation devices will be able to immediately enjoy the service in the areas where the network has been deployed, and additional sites will be added each week and coverage will be expanded.".
Cellcom noted that "hundreds of thousands of our customers who have supporting devices will be able to start enjoying an advanced user experience and high-speed browsing in the coming days.".
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But while companies compete for prestige, many consumers have no idea what the fuss is all about. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions:
Why do we need a 4th generation?
The download speed of files in 4G can theoretically reach 150 MB. This is a much better experience than what users get today when working with 3G networks, because the download speed of files in 3G is actually around 10 MB per second, and not 42 MB - as the network theoretically allows. The upload speed of a file is in most cases around 1 MB per second, and sometimes a little more. Currently, cellular companies offer 4G at a very limited speed, but there is still a significant jump compared to 3G. Orange network customers report download speeds of 20 to 25 MB and download files of about 10 MB. Of course, in some cases the speeds were also higher and lower.
Who can connect to 4G?
Currently only Orange customers in the deployment area. Orange claims that they already cover 40% of the country's territory between the cities of Haifa, Raanana, Herzliya, Netanya, Ramat-Gan, Givatayim, Tel Aviv, Rishon LeZion, Jerusalem and Beersheba.
What smartphone is needed?
The selection of smartphones is wide, and there is a chance that you are already using a 4th generation smartphone today. For example, iPhones 5, 5C and 5S, Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and Z1 Compact and Z, LG models such as G3, G2 G2 Mini, Nexus 5, HTC model One M8, and Nokia Lumia 920 and 820.
How much does it cost me?
At this stage, cellular companies are prohibited, according to the Ministry of Communications' directive, from charging for 4G, at least until the network's official launch.
