4G describes the technologies beyond 3G mobile wireless. A 4G system will be able to provide a comprehensive IP solution where voice, data and streamed multimedia can be given to users on an "Anytime, Anywhere" basis, and at higher data rates than previous generations.

4G is being developed to accommodate the quality of service (QoS) and rate requirements set by forthcoming applications like wireless broadband access, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), video chat, mobile TV, HDTV content, Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), minimal service like voice and data, and other streaming services for "anytime-anywhere".

Principal technologies

• Baseband techniques
  
  • OFDM: To exploit the frequency selective channel property
  • MIMO: To attain ultra high spectral efficiency
  • Turbo principle: To minimize the required SNR at the reception side
• Adaptive radio interface
• Modulation, spatial processing including multi-antenna and multi-user MIMO
• Relaying, including fixed relay networks (FRNs), and the cooperative relaying concept, known as multi-mode protocol

It introduces a single new ubiquitous radio access system concept, which will be flexible to a variety of beyond-3G wireless systems.

Field testing of 4G technologies are happening in many places. The Japanese company NTT DoCoMo has been testing a 4G communication system prototype with 4x4 MIMO called VSF-OFCDM at 100 Mbit/s while moving, and 1 Gbit/s while stationary. NTT DoCoMo recently reached 5 Gbit/s with 12x12 MIMO while moving at 10 km/h, and is planning on releasing the first commercial network in 2010.

Digiweb, an Irish fixed and wireless broadband company, has announced that they have received a mobile communications license from the Irish Telecoms regulator, ComReg. This service will be issued the mobile code 088 in Ireland and will be used for the provision of 4G Mobile communications.