Which Country Started 4G Internet Network and When?

Which Country Started 4G Internet Network and When? Which Countries Are Using 4G in 2025?

The development of mobile internet has revolutionized communication, transforming how people connect, work, and access information. After the introduction of 1G, 2G, and 3G, the arrival of 4G — the fourth generation of mobile network technology — marked a massive leap in data transmission speed, network reliability, and multimedia capabilities. This technology became the foundation of the modern internet experience before the emergence of 5G. But which country started the first 4G network, and which countries are still using it in 2025? Let’s explore the complete history, development, and current status of 4G networks worldwide.

What Is 4G? An Overview of the Fourth Generation of Mobile Networks

4G stands for fourth-generation mobile communication technology. It was developed as an enhancement of 3G to provide faster internet speeds, higher data transfer capacity, and better voice and video quality.

While 3G introduced the mobile internet and multimedia services, 4G made real-time video streaming, HD calls, online gaming, and large file transfers possible. It brought broadband-like speeds to mobile users, making smartphones a central part of daily life.

The main goal of 4G was to achieve:

• High-speed connectivity – up to 100 Mbps for mobile users and 1 Gbps for stationary users.

• Low latency – reducing the delay in data transmission.

• Improved security and efficiency – using advanced encryption and IP-based architecture.

The most commonly adopted 4G standard was LTE (Long Term Evolution), which became the global benchmark for mobile broadband technology.

Which Country Started the 4G Internet Network and When?

The first country to launch a commercial 4G network was Sweden.

1. Sweden – The Pioneer of 4G (2009)

In December 2009, the Swedish telecommunications company TeliaSonera (now Telia Company) launched the world’s first commercial 4G LTE network in Stockholm, Sweden. This network provided users with unprecedented mobile internet speeds at the time, allowing fast downloads and seamless video streaming on mobile devices and laptops.

TeliaSonera also simultaneously rolled out a 4G network in Oslo, Norway, making Norway one of the first two countries in the world to have 4G connectivity.

This launch marked the beginning of a new era in telecommunications, setting a global standard for mobile broadband technology.

How 4G Spread Around the World

After Sweden’s success, 4G technology rapidly spread across Europe, Asia, and North America. Each country competed to deliver faster and more stable mobile internet to meet the rising demand for smartphones and mobile applications.

2. United States (2010)

In December 2010, Verizon Wireless launched its 4G LTE network in the United States, covering over 30 cities initially. Soon after, other American operators like AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile joined the 4G race.
By 2013, 4G became available across most of the U.S., significantly improving internet speeds for millions of users.

3. Japan (2010)

Japan’s NTT DoCoMo introduced its commercial 4G LTE service in December 2010. Japan was already a technology leader in 3G, and the country’s shift to 4G helped boost innovations in mobile entertainment, streaming services, and e-commerce.

4. South Korea (2011)

South Korea, known for its advanced digital infrastructure, adopted 4G LTE technology early in 2011 through SK Telecom and KT Corporation. Within a year, the country achieved nationwide 4G coverage and became one of the world’s fastest mobile internet markets.

5. China (2013)

China rolled out 4G networks relatively later, but its scale was unmatched. China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom launched 4G services in 2013, rapidly covering major cities. Within a few years, China became the largest 4G market in the world, serving hundreds of millions of users.

6. India (2012–2016)

India’s 4G revolution began with Bharti Airtel in 2012, but the technology truly expanded nationwide with the launch of Reliance Jio in 2016. Jio’s affordable plans made 4G internet accessible to the masses, transforming India’s digital economy and driving online education, entertainment, and financial inclusion.

7. Europe and Other Regions

Following the Nordic countries, most European nations launched 4G between 2011 and 2014.

• United Kingdom: EE launched 4G in October 2012.

• Germany: Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone introduced LTE around 2011.

• France: Bouygues Telecom and Orange started 4G services in 2013.

• Australia: Telstra launched 4G LTE in 2011.
  By 2015, almost every developed nation had access to 4G networks.

Technological Features That Made 4G Unique

The transition from 3G to 4G was more than just faster speed—it represented a complete overhaul in network architecture.

Key features include:

1. All-IP Network – Unlike 3G, which used circuit-switching for voice, 4G operates on pure packet-switched (IP-based) technology.

2. OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) – Enables efficient use of bandwidth and supports multiple users simultaneously.

3. MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) – Uses multiple antennas to enhance signal quality and speed.

4. Low Latency – 4G reduced latency to around 50 milliseconds, improving real-time applications like video calls and online gaming.

5. Global Roaming Compatibility – Made it easier for users to stay connected internationally.

These advancements paved the way for today’s 5G networks and future 6G innovations.

Benefits of 4G Internet

4G changed the digital landscape and laid the foundation for modern connectivity. Its benefits include:

• High-speed data access for streaming HD videos, gaming, and cloud services.

• Enhanced communication with high-quality video calls and VoLTE (Voice over LTE).

• Boost to e-commerce and online services, helping millions of small businesses go digital.

• Mobile innovation — from ride-sharing apps to telemedicine and remote work tools.

• Affordable data packages that connected even rural populations.

Without 4G, the digital transformation witnessed during the 2010s and early 2020s would not have been possible.

Which Countries Are Using 4G in 2025?

As of 2025, 4G remains one of the most widely used mobile technologies worldwide, even though 5G is expanding rapidly. Not every region can afford to transition completely to 5G, so 4G continues to play a crucial role in connectivity, especially in developing countries.

Let’s look at how different regions are using 4G in 2025:

1. Europe

Most European countries still maintain strong 4G networks alongside 5G. 4G remains the primary mobile standard in rural and suburban areas where 5G coverage is limited.
Countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the UK use hybrid 4G-5G infrastructure to ensure seamless connectivity.

2. North America

In the United States and Canada, 4G LTE continues to serve as a fallback network for 5G devices. Telecom operators like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile maintain robust 4G coverage, especially in less populated regions. Many IoT (Internet of Things) devices still rely on 4G networks for stable data connections.

3. Asia

Asia remains a mixed landscape in 2025:

• China, Japan, and South Korea have near-complete 5G adoption but still support 4G for compatibility.

• India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia heavily depend on 4G networks, which cover over 90% of their mobile population.

• In Southeast Asia, 4G remains the dominant mobile network, though 5G expansion is underway in countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

4. Africa

In Africa, 4G is still the main mobile broadband technology in 2025. Many countries—such as Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, and Ghana—continue to expand their 4G infrastructure due to affordability and coverage challenges associated with 5G. Telecom companies are focusing on upgrading from 3G to 4G before investing heavily in 5G.

5. South America

Countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia rely predominantly on 4G networks. Although 5G services exist in major cities, 4G remains vital for rural areas due to its reliability and lower costs.

6. The Middle East

In Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, 5G coverage is advanced, yet 4G remains widely used in smaller towns and remote areas. Nations like Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon primarily depend on 4G in 2025 for everyday internet access.

7. Oceania

In Australia and New Zealand, 4G continues to serve as the core mobile network for most users, especially outside major cities. Telecom providers use both 4G and 5G technologies to maintain broad national coverage.

Why 4G Still Matters in 2025

Despite the global rollout of 5G, 4G remains essential due to several reasons:

1. Widespread Coverage – 4G networks already reach nearly every corner of the globe, unlike 5G, which is still expanding.

2. Affordable Devices – Most smartphones support 4G, making it accessible for low-income users.

3. Stable Speeds – For general browsing, streaming, and social media, 4G offers sufficient speed and reliability.

4. Infrastructure Costs – Many developing nations cannot afford full 5G deployment yet, so 4G remains the primary technology.

5. IoT Applications – Many connected devices still use 4G due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

According to global telecom data, over 4 billion people continue to use 4G networks in 2025, proving that this technology is far from obsolete.

Future of 4G: Coexistence with 5G and Beyond

Rather than disappearing, 4G is expected to coexist with 5G for many years. Mobile operators are upgrading their 4G networks with LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) and LTE-Advanced Pro, offering speeds up to 1 Gbps — rivaling early 5G performance.

Experts predict that 4G will remain operational globally until at least 2035, especially in rural and low-income regions. It will continue to serve as a backbone technology while 5G and 6G evolve for next-generation use cases like autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and ultra-low-latency communication.

The 4G network began its journey in Sweden in 2009, thanks to TeliaSonera’s pioneering efforts, and quickly transformed global communication. Within a decade, it became the standard for mobile internet across the world, enabling high-speed connectivity and powering the rise of the digital economy.

Even in 2025, 4G continues to be a reliable and widely used technology, connecting billions of people across developed and developing countries alike. While 5G is the future, 4G remains the strong backbone of mobile communication — a bridge between the digital past and the connected future.

In short:

• First 4G Network: Sweden, 2009 (TeliaSonera)

• Still in Use (2025): Almost every country in the world

• Role in 2025: Backbone of global mobile internet, coexisting with 5G

4G’s story is a testament to how innovation, accessibility, and global collaboration can reshape the way humanity connects and communicates.