According to J.D. Power, LTE "Works Better" than 2G, 3G, WiMAX

Wireless customers who use 4G LTE-enabled devices experience fewer data-related issues, especially with slow connection speeds, than do customers who use 3G and other 4G-enabled devices, according to  J.D. Power. In many ways, that is logical. The salient feature of 4G is that it is faster than 3G. 

The study finds that the number of data-related problems, especially those related to slow connection speeds, is significantly lower among customers using 4G LTE-enabled devices than among those using devices with older 3G or 4G technology standards, such as WiMAX and HSPA+.  

For example, among customers with 4G LTE-enabled devices, the problem incidence for excessively slow mobile Web loading is 15 problems per 100, compared with the industry average of 20 PP100. If you have used either HSPA+ or WiMAX, you might agree. 

Perhaps oddly, though, the overall problem incidence for excessively slow mobile Web loading is even higher among customers with WiMAX and HSPA+ technology (22 PP100 and 23 PP100, respectively). 

There are no substantial differences in problem rates for other data-related issues between 4G LTE and WiMAX and HSPA+ technologies, such as Web and email connection errors.

The analysis was based on 10 problem areas that affect the customer experience (in order of importance): dropped calls; calls not connected; audio issues; failed/late voicemails; lost calls; text transmission failures; late text message notifications; Web connection errors; email connection errors; and slow downloads. 

Network performance issues are measured as problems per 100 (PP100) network connections, with a lower score reflecting fewer problems and better network performance. Carrier performance is examined in six geographic regions: Northeast; Mid-Atlantic; Southeast; North Central; Southwest; and West.