LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the 4th generation (4G) mobile standard. Dramatically faster than 3G, it achieves theoretical maximum speeds of 150Mbps-1Gbps for data communication. Docomo launched Japan's first LTE service "Xi" in 2010, and LTE is now Japan's primary mobile standard.
LTE voice calls use VoLTE (Voice over LTE). While 3G used circuit switching for voice, VoLTE transmits voice as packets over LTE. This reduced call setup from ~7 seconds (3G) to ~1-2 seconds, with HD Voice significantly improving audio quality.
LTE uses multiple frequency bands: Band 1 (2.1GHz), Band 3 (1.8GHz), Band 8 (900MHz), etc., varying by carrier. When purchasing SIM-free devices, verify compatibility with your carrier's bands.
While 5G is expanding, coverage remains limited, with frequent LTE fallback. LTE will continue as critical complementary infrastructure alongside 5G for years. See 090/080/070 differences.