The first cellular network type to achieve gigabit-per-second speeds is known as 4G LTE-Advanced Pro (also called 4.5G or 4G+). This technology was first introduced by the telecommunications company Ericsson in 2015.
4G LTE-Advanced Pro builds upon the existing 4G LTE technology by incorporating additional features such as carrier aggregation, 256 QAM modulation, and 4x4 MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antennas. These enhancements allow for faster data transfer speeds and improved network capacity.
With 4G LTE-Advanced Pro, theoretical peak download speeds can reach up to 1 Gbps, which is equivalent to 125 MB/s. This represents a significant improvement over earlier 4G LTE networks, which typically offered peak speeds of 100-300 Mbps.
It's worth noting that while 4G LTE-Advanced Pro is capable of achieving gigabit speeds, actual real-world speeds will depend on a variety of factors, including network coverage, device capabilities, and network congestion.