4G hype will not finish on the 2G/3G network.

      Thread mobile broadband has recently been focused on LTE, WiMAX and 4G. It is as if death knell and 2G 3G has about a distant memory. However, when looking at reality, mobile data networks today are quite the opposite. According to market research group In-Stat, dominating 2G and 3G only recently began to take shape.

Advertising in the wireless industry go much faster than the real market. It took a decade for an operator to shut down a network before. For example, AT & T started transitioning users 1G network, TDMA in 2001. But 1G network was not completely closed until last year. NTT DoCoMo launched the first 3G network in 2001, but in February just before they announced it would close the 2G in 2012.
In many parts of the world such as India and Africa, 2G has many years of life left. China has started to introduce 3G networks. India, the country has the second largest population in the world lags behind China in this regard.
If you heard about the oncoming rush of 4G, the need to consider the following data:
              - More than half of the total number of base stations shipped in 2008 were 2G
              - In 2012, LTE base stations will be less than 1% of all base station shipments for the year. 2G base stations (mainly using EDGE) will be greater than 25 times compared to LTE in that year.
             - In 2013, out of more than 1.5 billion mobile phones sold by In-Stat forecasts, only 1.7% is LTE. The rest of 2G and 3G technology.
             - Sales of 3G services will not overtake 2G revenues until 2012
             - In total, 2G generate more revenue. On average users, 3G has higher revenue.
             - The top of the 3G market is North America, Western Europe and other developed regions of Asia.
There are several reasons why these older technologies will continue to exist long after operators start talking about their 4G network. The first reason is that not all regions of the developing world at the same speed. The less developed areas of economic slow to accept the newer technologies.
Second, old technologies also need to ensure coverage. For example, America has many well-developed 3G networks. However, the lack of network coverage throughout the entire country. These operators when deploying the new network will begin in areas densely populated. They keep the 2G network to 3G coverage in places where not present. In order for an older network "retired", the operator needs to have complete coverage with newer technologies and ensure that all subscribers have devices that can work with this new network. As we will see in the next decade with 4G, these things take a long time.

Huyen Nga (the EET India)