Not long ago, the abbreviation LTE appeared in almost every mobile internet offer. Currently, 5G networks are increasingly prominent in advertising slogans (yes, it's even faster than LTE). However, to support it, we need, among other things, a suitable 5G smartphone, and the coverage of this network does not cover the entire country. Many of us still use the previous generation network daily. See what distinguishes it and how to check LTE coverage.
What is LTE? Why is it a must have for everyone?
LTE, these three letters are an abbreviation of the English phrase Long Term Evolution. It is a standard for wireless data transmission, used by the 4G network (the predecessor of the 5G network). Of course, it's true that the 5G network is on the rise now. A new and faster standard, but to support it, we need either a suitable 5G smartphone or a 5G mobile router (this will be a significant expense). In addition, there is coverage – not every place in Poland is currently within the 5G network coverage. These are mainly large cities.
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Fast internet access, preferably mobile and wireless – this option interests many of us. If you too, then LTE mobile internet is a total must have. We consume a lot of content online. From photos on Instagram, through TikToks, YouTube videos, to movies, series, and music on top streaming services. We most often want to watch or listen to everything in high resolution and quality. Besides, we communicate with the world – messages, stories, photos, so for this, we also need good data transmission. At this moment, at the beginning of 2022, being within LTE coverage (preferably LTE Advanced or LTE+) is enough for comfortable mobile internet use.
How to check LTE coverage?
If we have weak LTE coverage, the smartphone will most often automatically switch to H+ internet support (a previous generation option). This can happen, for example, when we travel by train, and outside the window, we only see forests and fields. Most often, these are simply places where our smartphone receives a very weak signal from the transmitter. What is the consequence of a sudden switch from LTE to H+? We will feel it quite painfully – suddenly the feed on Facebook or Instagram will start loading slowly, and watching movies and series in 4K or even Full HD will be out of the question.
So, how to check LTE coverage on our smartphone? There are several options. The first, very popular one, is using coverage maps of a given operator. However, this is not the best solution. Most often, we will find information that 99% of the country's area is covered by LTE, and that's all. The key here is the exact signal quality.
We will get precisely this more detailed information by using the RFBenchmark app – it is available for both Android and iOS. We will see if there is weak LTE coverage in a given area, or quite the opposite – we have access to very fast internet. Speed test measurements are also available. Sometimes there may be discrepancies with the actual situation. If we are on-site, it's worth doing a speed test. RFBenchmark has its website, so we can check signal issues on desktop computers and laptops.
If RFBenchmark doesn't suit us, an alternative is the Network Cell Info Lite & WiFi app. Unfortunately, this is an option only for Android devices. Using it, we can check the LTE signal quality and the approximate location of the transmitter we are currently connecting to. It's worth knowing that both apps are available in Polish.
Of course, it must be remembered that the results obtained from the applications or the website cannot be taken as 100% truth. Measurement errors may occur. The most accurate LTE coverage test is simply to see it on your own smartphone in a selected location.
How to boost LTE signal on your phone?
If we have weak LTE coverage, there are GSM signal boosters on the market, so-called repeaters. However, their self-installation is not legal. Only telecommunications operators have the right to install such solutions. If we use GSM repeaters on our own, we may be fined. In extreme cases, the whole matter can even end up in court.
If, on the other hand, we do not have access to the LTE network on a smartphone with an LTE module, it is worth making sure that this option is enabled in the device settings (it is best to choose automatic settings). Then the smartphone will automatically connect to the LTE network as soon as it is within its coverage. We should also select the appropriate operator in the settings. What if the automatic selection is not satisfactory? We can also manually select LTE network support and our operator with LTE appended to its name. This should solve problems with proper connection.
