Using Network as Selection Criterion for Npower Tablet Devices
DISCLAIMER: This review isn’t meant to downgrade any product. N-Power tablet devices rank among the powerful devices you can get in the market. The least market price of any of the devices ranges between N80,000-N120,000. The effort of the government should be appreciated.
We all have preferences when it comes to selecting or buying tech-related device. The ongoing massive recruitment of Federal Government’s job initiative, N-Power, is using high-power tech to drive knowledge economy.
In choosing a tablet, you might want to put any of these criteria into consideration:
- Network
- Number of SIM Card
- Screen size or display size
- Operating system
- Memory
- Camera Pixel
- Brand Name
- Warranty
Using NETWORK as criterion for Npower Tablet Devices
In this post, we’ll shed more light on using NETWORK OF A TABLET DEVICE OF NPOWERNG as criteria for selection.
The job initiative programme of Nigerian government tagged "N-power " has made available five great tablets for the 2017 applicants to choose from.
The available devices for Npower 2017 applicants and their NETWORK CAPABILITY are:
N-Power Tablet Device | Network |
1) AfriOne Npower iPad-3G | 3G |
2) Samsung Npower Tablets- | GSM/HSPA |
3) Npower RLG Tablets- | GSM/HSDPA/EDGE/GPRS/3G |
4) Npower Zinox Zpad Tablets- | 3G |
5) Floss Signature Npower Tablets | 2G (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) 3G (WCDMA/2100) |
Unlike 2016 Recruitment Applicants, who had 9 devices to choose from, though HP was later dropped, the ongoing 2017 recruits have just five select from.
Sometimes you’re in an environment where other tablet users are enjoying greta internet connection (with the same network carrier as yours), yet it’s possible you face connection/network problem.
It means you have to check the NETWORK strength of your device in order to enjoy a ceaseless internet connection.
So what’s all these HSPA, 2G, 3G all about?
Let’s break the terminology down for a non-tech savvy user to really understand the concept behind phone NETWORK.
“For average consumers, '3G' and '4G' are two of the most mysterious terms in the mobile technology dictionary, but they're used relentlessly to sell phones and tablets.
If you're shopping for a new phone, the answer isn't clear-cut, and you shouldn't always go for the higher number,” PCMag
What is “G” in 3G and 4G?
"G" stands for a generation of mobile technology, installed in phones and on cellular networks.
Before 3G and 4G, there’s digital phones configured with 2G, and first, analog cell phones, which used (1G).
3G is the third-generation mobile networks, or 3G, came to the U.S. in 2003. With minimum consistent Internet speeds of 144Kbps, 3G was supposed to bring "mobile broadband." There are now so many varieties of 3G, though, that a "3G" connection can get you Internet speeds anywhere from 400Kbps to more than ten times that.
New generations usually bring new base technologies, more network capacity for more data per user, and the potential for better voice quality, too.
Telecommunication networks in Nigeria like Globacom, Etisalat (now 9Mobile), Airtel and MTN provide 3G services to their numerous customers.
Interestingly, most of these telecom giants already have 4G broadband in some cities in Nigeria. So, don’t worry if you’ve seen 3G. That can be upgraded to 4G depending on your location.
WHAT DOES GSM MEAN IN PHONE NETWORK
“GSM is an alternate to CDMA and, as the name implies, is more of a global standard and the 3G technology used by most carriers around the world. HSPA : High Speed Packet Access. HSPA is a 3rd Generation (3G) technology based on UMTS standards offering faster data download speeds at the cost of upload speeds.”---blackberry.com
You might also like Using battery strenght as selection guide for N-Power Tablet Device
EDGE(Enhanced Data GSM Evolution)
GPRS and EDGE are both 2G technology but EDGE is significantly faster with a download speed of up to 384Kbps. EDGE is sometimes called a 2.5G network as it also has some characteristics of a 3G network but it doesn't satisfy the specification.
Every device has support for this connection.
3G
3G connection is the stock standard for most modern tablet devices and it’s available in more than 98% of cities in Nigeria.
Some don’t you worry, you’ll be able to enjoy video calling and stream YouTube video on your N-Power device.
Already, some of the devices are being pre-loaded with useful software and materials at designated centres in the country.
3G’s download speed is up to 3.1Mbps.
HSDPA (HIGH-SPEED DOWN-LINK PACKET ACCESS)
This is an enhancement to 3G. Thus has a faster speed, download speed can be up to 14Mbps.
HSDPA is sometimes called 3.5G.
Check the list of N-Power devices, the ones with HSDPA will be better than the ones with just 3G which doesn’t support HSDPA.
HSDPA is generally present where 3G is present - almost all mid range to high end devices support these speeds.
HSPA+(EVOLVED HIGH-SPEED PACKET ACCESS)
HSPA+ is an evolution HSPA(HSDPA&HSUPA). It is a 4G technology that allows download at a rate of up to 168Mbps.
HSDPA+ is generally present where 3G is present - many mid range to high end devices support these speeds
WCDMA – WIDE BAND CODE DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS (UMTS)
WCDMA is also a third generation network developed by NTT Docomo and from 2G network CDMA. There are no cellular companies that are not based on WCDMA.
If you only see 3G, don’t worry, WCDMA is a standard for 3G network.
WHICH IS THE BEST N-POWER TABLET DEVICE I TERMS OF NETWORK?
In terms of network, we’ll rate the available devices thus:
Samsung: 5 stars
RLG: 4 stars
Floss Signature Tablet-PC: 3 stars
AfriOne and Zinox Zpad Tablet: 2 stars
Please, note that most of the devices with 3G can be upgraded depending on how it’s been configured by N-Power and the availability of 4G service in your area.
