Though many technologies are currently available for wired and wireless, the 4G concept supports the provisioning of multiple types of services, ranging from simple network access to complex multimedia virtual reality, including voice communication services, which are themselves a challenge in packet-based mobile communications environments. 4G mobile data transmission rates are planned to be up to 100 megabits per second on the move and 1000 gigbits per second stationary, this is a phenomenal amount of bandwidth, only comparable to the bandwidth workstations connected directly to a LAN.

The intent of this paper is to describe 4G, its architecture, specifications, and the technology. Also covered are the technical physical layer and medium access layer features, channel access, Error control coding and OFDM, further developments and threats of 4G, and higher layer issues in 4G. Finally, the features of the wireless broadband networks are compared and a conclusion is drawn.