The United Nations’ International Telecommunications Union or ITC collectively reviews, tests and designates speed designations; currently, those include 2G to 4G categories but will expand as technology advancements are confirmed.

One such speed advancements is making headlines across industry news and drawing boards: Last week, ITC approved the final specifications for the IMT-Advanced wireless broadband technology.

What does that mean for the average mobile device user? How does download speeds of 100Mbps while physically moving and up to 1 GHz while stationery sound?

Sweden was the first country to adopt LTE-Advanced technology, which meets and exceeds the IMT-Advanced primary requirements, and it was the first country to construct and operate an LTE network. Sweden has been testing the 1Gbps speeds for months, and tests have shown that in a moving vehicle, speeds up to at least 945Mbps are not only possible but actual.

The second and probably biggest performance advantage to the technology isn’t the speed but the increased bandwidth: More smartphone and tablet users can use this type of network with fewer traffic jams and slowdowns. Currently, network providers limit data use – bandwidth use – in plans and further limit what they perceive as high-use users, even if those users don’t exceed their plan limits.

Comments from the ITU Secretary General and the Director of ITU’s Radiocommunications Bureau included:

“IMT-Advanced would be like putting a fibre optic broadband connection on your mobile phone, making your phone at least 100 times faster than today’s 3G smart phones. But it’s not only about speed; it’s about efficiency. IMT-Advanced will use radio-frequency spectrum much more efficiently making higher data transfers possible on lesser bandwidth. This will enable mobile networks to face the dramatic increase in data traffic that is expected in the coming years.”

Exciting news, isn’t it! Now to get those carriers outside Sweden on board and stop capping use, eh?