The expression 4G has become general, but little is known about it, except for the fact it’s related to the internet on phones. So if you want to know things such as what are the advantages of 4G? Is Sony Xperia SP 4G capable? How to turn it on? And more details about the Sony Xperia SP 4G, then this article is for you.
Does the Sony Xperia SP have 4G?
Yes. Sony has embedded 4G in Sony Xperia SP phone.
How can I know whether Sony Xperia SP is able to use 4G or not?
It is essential to check whether your phone is 4G-capable before buying it. The easiest method is to verify your phone specifications in your phone box, or in the manual. If you don’t possess the package or didn’t find the manual, you can check your phone criteria on the official website of the manufacturer or any other dependable website.
The second option is verifying the signal bar. If the Sony Xperia SP 4G data is turned on, you will notice a 4G (or an LTE) icon at the top of the phone’s display. Note that the absence of that sign doesn’t necessarily mean that your phone doesn’t support 4G.
Another way is to check the settings: Go to your settings and fetch network mode, usually as follows: Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Cellular Data Options (or Mobile Data Options). If your phone is 4G-enabled you will find a 4G or an LTE option. If you don’t see either of them, then your smartphone doesn’t support the standard.
How to switch to 4G on Sony Xperia SP?
If you intend to enable your Sony Xperia SP 4G network, then follow the instructions (it might differ a bit from the settings on your own device):
1- From Home screen, choose Apps.
2- From the Apps tab, choose Settings.
3- Under Wireless & networks tap on “More…”.
4- Choose Mobile networks.
5- Make sure the Mobile data traffic is checked.
6- Tap Network Mode.
7- Choose 4G or LTE option.
Note: If you intend to turn off 4G then choose a lower network type (3G for example) or tap Only 5G if it’s possible.
What 4G is on Sony Xperia SP?
4G is the fourth generation of mobile telecommunication. It was first released in 2009 in South Korea, and it was deployed after that all around the world until it became the fastest and most used network in mobiles.
The provider of 4G network specifications is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), it has also identified 5G, and 3G specifications before that. The ITU specifies what internet speeds and what latency limits are acceptable to call a network protocol a 4G.
Many protocols passed the test and qualified as 4G, the most important are LTE, LTE+, and HSPA+.
Why is 4G on the Sony Xperia SP important?
4G was created to offer a more reliable internet connection on phones, and that’s exactly what it did. 4G technology offers much enhanced downloading and uploading speeds than 3G.
The average 3G speed ranges from 1.5 to 9 Mbit/s, while the average 4G internet speed ranges between 15 to 90 Mbit/s, it can reach as high as 900 Mbit/s.
Another prominent criterion of 4G, is its low latency. We can present latency as the time needed to transmit data or the delay between the action and the actual execution. Low latency means a better user experience. 4G has 100% better latency than 3G. The average 4G latency is 50 ms.
With the help of the VoLTE standard, 4G now grants better voice quality in phone calls and gives users the capability to navigate the internet while making calls.
All of these advantages combined with the low cost of 4G widened the use of Sony Xperia SP 4G technology, to include better video conferencing, online gaming, and other real-time interactions.
Get to know 4G bands in your Sony Xperia SP
4G and other mobile technologies use radio waves to transmit data. These waves have different lengths and frequencies. To avoid interference between signals, governments and the ITU regulated which regions use which frequencies for 4G.
Each region has been designated certain frequency intervals known as bands. Band number 7 and band number 28 (as an example) are used at the world level.
What you should be aware of as a consumer is that each mobile provider offers specific bands according to the area, and different phones support different bands. So you have to make sure that your Sony Xperia SP supports the bands provided by your local mobile provider.
Here are the Sony Xperia SP4G-supported bands:
1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 – C5303;1, 2, 4, 5 – C5306;.
Sony Xperia SP 4G Network Questions & Answers
How to know if 4G coverage is attainable in my area?
Before choosing your mobile operator you need to make sure it has 4G coverage in your zone. The easiest way to do so is by calling them and asking. Another method is to check their official website or any trusted coverage map website.
Why I’m not connected to 4G although the settings are right?
If you have a phone that supports 4G, and you don’t have a 4G connection, the reason might be that you didn’t activate a 4G offer. Check your internet operator plans, or call them to activate it. If they don’t have a 4G offer, then you might need to change your mobile provider.
What is 4G LTE?
4G LTE is a word used interchangeably with 4G and LTE, which creates confusion for users. technically speaking, LTE is different than 4G. LTE stands for “Long Term Evolution”, a communication standard that evolved from 3G but is still not as fast as 4G. However, some companies promote it as 4G.
The difference between 4G and LTE became vaguer when LTE-A (LTE – Advanced) appeared. LTE-A has almost the same speed as 4G technology.
What’s the difference between GSM, CDMA, and 4G LTE?
Before the launch of 4G LTE, the most recognized standards were GSM (2G/3G) and CDMA (2G/3G). GSM is an initialism for “Global System for Mobile communication” and as its name suggests, it’s a standard that is used on a global scale by most mobile carriers.
CDMA on the other hand is an initialism for “Code-Division Multiple Access”, don’t get annoyed by the name it’s just another standard. what you need to comprehend about it is that it’s less common than GSM, and CDMA phones are often locked to a single provider and can’t be transferred.
When considering purchasing either a GSM or CDMA phone, you should consider the operator coverage in your area. Some operators support only GSM and others support only CDMA.
You have to also consider whether you need roaming or not, if you move a lot then CDMA might be a hurdle. Not to mention that the best option is a phone that is compatible with both.
4G network didn’t support voice calls when it was first made available, so it was dependent on GSM and CDMA standards, but with the evolution of VoLTE standard it became independent, so you don’t have to care a lot about GSM/CDMA.
Will 4G phones stop working?
2G and 3G networks are being shut down all over the world because 4G is everywhere and has all the antecedent generations’ features at better speeds. So it is a valid question to ask if the appearance of 5G networks will cause the shutdown of 4G.
The short answer to that is: No. Your Sony Xperia SP 4G technology will stay valuable for a few more years.
4G Networks will stay existing for at least a decade or two, depending on the area and other factors. As things were for earlier generations, 4G and 5G will coexist and stay running together, meaning phones supporting 5G will support 4G too as a fallback.
Is 4G still worth it these days?
Yes, it is. Although the high speeds of 5G, 4G is still acceptable and provides good speed for most of the use cases. 4G network is broader than 5G, meaning you can use it almost all around the world. Another advantage of 4G is cost-effectiveness. Because 5G is still too cost-intensive to be a real alternative.