# Nations largest 4g Network? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nations-largest-4g-network/568164 "2011-01-19T03:23:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nations-largest-4g-network/568164/21 "2011-01-21T01:48:35Z")
> [@racna1305](#): > > Also I hear verizon is no longer offering upgrade anymore? Now you have to buy phones at full price if you are upgrading. Hope thats false I suspect that will be true until guys like me start hitting our two-year mark (mine will occur in August of 2012), walk into the friendly Verizon store and say “Let me see if I understand the situation here - I can get this nice, shiny new phone for $550 and a two-year contract extension here, or I can go to **any** of your competitors and get essentially the very same phone for only $200 and a two-year contract there?” …and Verizon’s threatened “no cheap phone upgrade” stance will quickly disappear. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nations-largest-4g-network/568164/22 "2011-01-21T04:21:57Z")
This is all very depressing. While the rest of the world has 3G and is starting to move on to 4G, Thailand is mired in 2G. They even have 3G on Mount Everest, I kid you not. Even Cambodia is talking about moving to 4G. But the handful of people who control the telecommunications industry in Thailand is still trying to squeeze as much “concession money” (read: graft money) from the government as they can before they agree to move on to 3G. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nations-largest-4g-network/568164/23 "2011-01-21T04:57:47Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > I suspect that will be true until guys like me start hitting our two-year mark (mine will occur in August of 2012), walk into the friendly Verizon store and say “Let me see if I understand the situation here - I can get this nice, shiny new phone for $550 and a two-year contract extension here, or I can go to **any** of your competitors and get essentially the very same phone for only $200 and a two-year contract there?” > > …and Verizon’s threatened “no cheap phone upgrade” stance will quickly disappear. US Cellular offers plans that allow their traditional contract customers to purchase new phones at reduced pricing without signing a contract. Prepaid providers are also offering plans with texting and data that are the same price (or less) without signing a contract. As their competition becomes more competitive I think you’ll see Verizon’s stance begin to change, especially as that competition deploys their own LTE networks. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nations-largest-4g-network/568164/24 "2011-01-21T12:05:56Z")
No cheap upgrades sounds like a really stupid idea, I agree that won’t last long. ---
**Author:** ![racna1305](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@racna1305](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racna1305)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nations-largest-4g-network/568164/25 "2011-01-21T14:49:19Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > No cheap upgrades sounds like a really stupid idea, I agree that won’t last long. I guess they see it as making it easier to move around. Alot of people hate the commitment. Personally I think its stupid. But its true you can go to another company and get it cheaper but you will be bound to a contract and in the end paying more for the phone. (2 year contract, cancellation fee) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nations-largest-4g-network/568164.md?page=1)