If you ask anyone on the Internet now, do you think the 4G network is being slowed down? The answer is probably yes, because there are indeed many people still using 4G networks, and in their perception, the current 4G network is slower than before. This has triggered a conspiracy theory - operators are slowing down 4G speeds and pushing 5G to make users spend more money! Is that true? In fact, if you pay a little attention to the changes in our mobile Internet access, it is not difficult to find. It can be said that 4G has slowed down, but it can also be said that 4G has not slowed down. What's going on?
Let’s first briefly introduce why the 4G network becomes slow. The 4G network is actually different from what some people imagine. It is no longer a form of simply using a wireless signal to ensure the Internet bandwidth of mobile phones. Instead, there is a "set" of signals communicating between the base station and the mobile phone. This The technology is called carrier aggregation (CA). In carrier aggregation mode, the base station can superimpose up to five groups of carriers to communicate with mobile phones. In this case, the theoretical network speed will increase by 5 times. During the popularization stage of 4G a few years ago, I felt that the Internet speed was very fast. It was precisely because carrier aggregation was in full swing at that time. Now 5G relies on carrier aggregation to achieve very fast Internet speeds.
However, carrier aggregation technology is indeed extremely uneconomical for operators. To increase the network speed by 5 times, five groups of LTE carriers must be superimposed. If it were not superimposed to increase the speed, any group of carriers can independently guarantee a certain range of signal coverage. In other words, as long as the network speed is slowed down, it will be enough to cover the signal. The area is increased by 5 times. In the 4G era, it was still possible to discuss how fast the Internet speed should be for users, but now that the faster 5G is here, operators really will not go to great lengths to ensure 4G speed. What's more, there is also a rigid need to improve 4G signal coverage.
In fact, the popularity of VoLTE is the fundamental reason that drives operators to "slow down" 4G. Some friends may still remember how refreshing it was to make a phone call when 4G was first launched. After entering the mobile phone number, you have to wait for a long muting process. During this process, the mobile phone signal will change from 4G to 2G, and then you can hear the call. Tips from the other party. Now this is no longer the case. As long as you dial the number, you can be connected immediately, and the phone sound quality is better than before.
This is because phone functions were previously carried by 2G networks, but are now being replaced by VoLTE, and VoLTE has also become part of 4G and 5G networks. To ensure smooth phone calls anytime and anywhere, operators need to maximize 4G signal coverage. For the same hardware expenditure, whether to increase 4G network speed by 5 times or increase signal coverage by 5 times, anyone can guess what the operator will choose.
When talking about this, some friends may say, you see, after all, this is still clearing the ground for operators. Sure enough, 4G has been slowed down! If you test it now with test software, it is indeed the case. For example, your mobile phone can reach 573Mbps downlink in 5G mode, but only 121Mbps downlink in 4G mode. The speed difference is very obvious. Many friends think that at least 4G is still fast, because they often find that 4G network speeds are so slow that they cannot be used at all.
But when it comes to this, it seems to have overlooked a question. Do you think Mr. Ping has applied for a 5G package? Faced with such an expensive 5G package, of course I refuse!
In fact, the reviewer has not changed the package since he changed to the China Mobile daily rental card of 18 yuan per month 5 years ago, and this is a 4G package. But as long as you have a 5G mobile phone, turn on the 5G mode and continue to use the original 4G package, you will find that the mobile phone signal has been displayed as 5G, and the three major operators have given a guaranteed network speed of 300Mbps, although it is only the lowest 5G speed. , but it is definitely enough and faster than 4G.
To put it another way, without changing the package or spending more money, I continued to use the original 4G package and got 300Mbps network speed. Who am I to say that the operator has slowed down the speed? If you insist on turning off the 5G mode of your mobile phone, the mobile phone must only display the 4G signal icon, and you must also be able to enjoy the 4G peak network speed of the year. As a "fundamental 4G user", then I am afraid that the three major operators cannot meet this requirement. .
So at this point, with this conclusion, do we still want to insist on discussing whether 4G slows down? I'm afraid it's not necessary.
