The unexpected health crisis has forced non-techie parents and their children to embrace technology. Schools are implementing remote learning via video conferencing platforms and companies are requiring employees to follow work from home schemes. Zoom and Lark are now the new classrooms where children learn and Microsoft Teams is the new office where parents work. Parents working from home are now regularly using the technology they once feared. These technologies parents and kids are using amid the pandemic depend on one thing to work together smoothly, the internet connection.
I got a lot of messages from parents asking how to improve their children’s internet speed for online learning and I was surprised to learn that a lot of kids are using their parents’ mobile phones for online education. While most parents have upgraded their mobile phones to comply with school requirements there is one thing many have neglected to do to get a better internet connection, upgrade their SIM cards.
Local telcos are upgrading their networks this is the reason why users also need to upgrade their SIM cards to get a faster and more efficient connection.
I have compiled below the common questions parents ask when I informed them that they need to upgrade to 4G/LTE to have a better internet experience:
1. What are 3G, 4G, and LTE? How are they different from each other?
3G, short for 3rd Generation, is the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. It is an upgrade from 2G and 2.5G GPRS networks, to have a faster internet speed. 3G enabled the use of mobile internet and video calling when it was launched in 1998. 4G, short for 4th Generation is the fourth generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. It was launched in the late 2000s and is much faster than 3G. 4G is able to support video streaming and video conferencing of better quality. LTE, or Long-Term Evolution, is a type of 4G. In the Philippines, telcos refer to 4G and LTE as one and the same.
2. What are the benefits of 4G/LTE?
4G/LTE provides a high-speed mobile internet connection of up to 42Mbps, which can give you a faster and richer browsing experience than before. Video conference calls for both online learning and working from home would be smoother.
3. How will I know if 4G/LTE is available in my area?
Users who are already using an LTE SIM and device will see an LTE or 4G signal indicator when they are in an area with 4G coverage. Users who are still using a 3G SIM need to change the SIM to 4G to get a 4G connection in their areas.
4. How can I fully use 4G/LTE?
LTE SIM and 4G/LTE-capable devices are needed to fully experience the benefits of 4G/LTE. Telcos in the Philippines are encouraging users to upgrade. Globe for example is offering a free upgrade to LTE SIM and offers discounted 4G/LTE devices for users who need to upgrade their phones
5. Is there a cost to upgrade to 4G/LTE?
If you are a Globe subscriber, upgrading to an LTE SIM is free. As long as you have an LTE SIM and a 4G/LTE device, you can fully experience the benefits of 4G/LTE at no additional cost.
6. What happens if I don’t upgrade to 4G/LTE?
You will miss out on the full potential of having 4G/LTE connectivity. You will still be able to use your SIM for calls and text but your mobile internet experience will be very limited or degraded.
Again, for a more stable mobile internet connection, I strongly encourage parents to upgrade to a 4G/LTE SIM. You would experience a better work from home setup and a more effective online learning for your kids. Go to https://www.globe.com.ph/help/prepaid/self-service-sim-upgrade.html for more information on how to upgrade your SIM card.