A nice explanation of EDGE/3G/4G/HSPA/LTE

Network Symbols Explained

*As I’ve only had AT&T, I can only speak for how it is with them.*

Firstly, AT&T stock LTE phones always showing 4G is a lie. It will show 4G wether you have HPSA or HPSA+. Technically 4G doesn’t even exist. It’s a marketing gimmick.

According to AT&T here is how the symbols work:

• E(dge): GSM – The slowest of the slow.
• 3G: HSPA or UMTS – High Speed Pack Access and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
• 3G(+): HSPA+ – An upgrade to the HSPA protocal. This is your average network.
• 4G: HSPA+ – Tower upgrade. Enhanced backhaul. (essentially the same tech as 3G+)
• 4G LTE: LTE – Long Term Evolution. On LTE you should typically expect speeds no less then 20mbps.

If you are using the RumRaider ROM (as of 1/3/’12) your symbols will appear as:

• E – E
• 3G/3G+ – 3G
• 4G – H
• 4G LTE – 4G

via General Knowledge Thread – xda-developers.

Bell/Telus/Sprint/Verizon also operate an older 3G network using CDMA2000 technology. 1x, EV-DO and 1xEV refer to CDMA2000 extensions for enhanced data.

Gotta love when marketing brings “technical” terms to the masses.