There’s a lot of hype around the upcoming launch of 4G mobile services in Cayman. However, for those who are less technologically inclined, the big question is whether they will really notice a difference.

“Isn’t it just the same, only faster?” asked one.

Yes, indeed, in the same way that air travel is the same, only faster, than ocean travel. Yet air travel has revolutionised the world we live in, so speed certainly does count for something.

Mobile phones, whether 3G capable or not, are currently limited by the available network, which provides EDGE coverage. This can, at peak performance, deliver around 385kbps, although the speed depends on the number of mobile devices utilising a specific tower at the time. For those who use their smart phones to browse the internet, this means sites can take quite a while to download, and watching YouTube videos are virtually impossible due to the stop-start nature of the stream.

However, 4G (in this case an HSPA+ mobile network) will deliver up to 21mbps. That is some 60 times faster. So this will mean that a 4G capable device will be able to download web pages in an instant, and streaming videos should be smooth and not marred by minutes of waiting.

One of the important plus points of the HSPA+ network LIME is putting in is that it will be backwards compatible, meaning that owners of phones that are 3G capable will also see a significant improvement in their data rates, even though they might not be able to take full advantage of the network’s available speed. However, it will not require everyone to suddenly go out and buy a new phone, so you can wait for your next scheduled upgrade, rather than having to rush out and get the first 4G capable phone you can lay your hands on.

All of Grand Cayman will get 4G coverage in the initial rollout, scheduled for later this year, with the Sister Islands following suit early 2012.

With tablet devices like the Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Blackberry Playbook bringing about new ways to interact with mobile data, what can be done with a fast mobile network becomes almost endless.

However, it is important to remember that you will need a data plan to use the service, and just because it is possible to stream a movie to your iPad over the network doesn’t mean it is a good idea, as it will burn through your plan’s allowance very, very quickly.

Although the data rate would in theory allow the 4G network to replace a home internet connection, that is not the intention of the technology, especially as a home connection provides unlimited downloads, while mobile plans will in most cases be capped, or could be charged per data unit, which could add up very quickly for power users.

Although the implications for smartphone users are very exciting, there are a number of other possibilities that are opened up by the technology. A USB dongle would allow laptops access to fast broadband internet anywhere on the Island. Even more exciting for many users will be the introduction of so-called MiFi devices that create a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.

According to LIME, one of the big aims with the technology is to create a seamless user experience, so as you move from the office to your home and everywhere in between, you can remain connected with quick download rates. Although details are still being finalised, this will likely involve packaging home and mobile internet service together, allowing users to remain connected wherever they are without the need for logging in to a new network every time.