What is the difference between 2G, 3G, 4G, mobile

networks?
May 16, 2012 at 6:12am

G in 2G, 3G and 4G stands for the Generation of the mobile network. Today, mobile operators have
started offering 4G services in the country. A higher number before the G means more power to
send out and receive more information and therefore the ability to achieve a higher efficiency through
the wireless network.
Understanding the mobile networks:
As the name would suggest, 1G was the first generation of mobile networks. Here basically, radio
signals were transmitted in Analogue form and expectedly, one was not able to do much other than
sending text messaging and making calls. But the biggest disadvantage, however came in the form
of limited network availability, as in the network was available only within the country.
2G networks on the other hand, were based on narrow band digital networks. Signals were
transmitted in the digital format and this dramatically improved the quality of calls and also reduced
the complexity of data transmission. The other advantage of the 2G network came in the form of
Semi Global Roaming System, which enabled the connectivity all over the world.
Between 2G and 3G there was a short phase in between where mobile phones became sleeker and
more pocketable if we can call it that. This is popularly referred to as 2.5G where the quantity of
radio waves to be transmitted was much lower. This in turn had an effect on the shape and structure
of mobile phones. But most of all, 2.5G helped in the ushering of GPRS (General Pocket Radio
Service).
The 3rd generation of mobile networks has become popular largely thanks to the ability of users to
access the Internet over devices like mobiles and tablets. The speed of data transmission on a 3G
network ranges between 384KBPS to 2MBPS. This means a 3G network actually allows for more
data transmission and therefore the network enables voice and video calling, file transmission,
internet surfing, online TV, view high definition videos, play games and much more. 3G is the best
option for users who need to always stay connected to Internet.
4th Generation mobile networks are believed to provide many value added features. In addition to all
the 3G facilities, data transmission is believed to go through the roof with speeds ranging between
100MBPs to 1GBPS. Phew! Happy talking, surfing, conferencing, chatting, networking, partying, or
whatever you want to do on your mobile phone.

2G
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have a new message (last change).

For other uses, see 2G (disambiguation).
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please
help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced
material may be challenged and removed. (July 2011)
2G (or 2-G) is short for second-generation wireless telephone technology. Second generation 2G
cellular telecom networks were commercially launched on the GSM standard
inFinland by Radiolinja (now part of Elisa Oyj) in 1991.[1] Three primary benefits of 2G networks over
their predecessors were that phone conversations were digitally encrypted; 2G systems were
significantly more efficient on the spectrum allowing for far greater mobile phone penetration levels;
and 2G introduced data services for mobile, starting with SMStext messages. 2G technologies
enabled the various mobile phone networks to provide the services such as text messages, picture
messages and MMS (multi media messages). All text messages sent over 2G are digitally
encrypted, allowing for the transfer of data in such a way that only the intended receiver can receive
and read it.
After 2G was launched, the previous mobile telephone systems were retrospectively dubbed 1G.
While radio signals on 1G networks are analog, radio signals on 2G networks are digital. Both
systems use digital signaling to connect the radio towers (which listen to the handsets) to the rest of
the telephone system.
2G has been superseded by newer technologies such as 2.5G, 2.75G, 3G, and 4G; however, 2G
networks are still used in many parts of the world.
Contents
[hide]

1 2G technologies

2 Capacities, advantages, and disadvantages

o

2.1 Capacity

2.2 Disadvantages

2.3 Advantage

3 Evolution
o

3.1 2.5G (GPRS)

3.2 2.75G (EDGE)

4 2G Shut Down

4.1 Australia

4.2 Canada

4.3 United States

5 See also

6 References

2G technologies[edit]
2G technologies can be divided into Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)-based and Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA)-based standards depending on the type ofmultiplexing used. The main 2G
standards are:

GSM (TDMA-based), originally from Europe but used in almost all countries on all six
inhabited continents. Today accounts for over 80% of all subscribers around the world. Over 60
GSM operators are also using CDMA2000 in the 450 MHz frequency band (CDMA450).[2]

IS-95 aka cdmaOne (CDMA-based, commonly referred as simply CDMA in the US), used in
the Americas and parts of Asia. Today accounts for about 17% of all subscribers globally. Over a
dozen CDMA operators have migrated to GSM including operators in Mexico, India, Australia
and South Korea.

PDC (TDMA-based), used exclusively in Japan

iDEN (TDMA-based), proprietary network used by Nextel in the United States and Telus
Mobility in Canada

IS-136 a.k.a. D-AMPS (TDMA-based, commonly referred as simply 'TDMA' in the US), was
once prevalent in the Americas but most have migrated to GSM.

2G services are frequently referred as Personal Communications Service, or PCS, in the United
States.

Capacities, advantages, and disadvantages[edit]

Capacity[edit]
Using digital signals between the handsets and the towers increases system capacity in two key
ways:

Digital voice data can be compressed and multiplexed much more effectively than analog
voice encodings through the use of various codecs, allowing more calls to be transmitted in
same amount of radio bandwidth.

The digital systems were designed to emit less radio power from the handsets. This meant
that cells had to be smaller, so more cells had to be placed in the same amount of space. This
was possible because cell towers and related equipment had become less expensive.

2G Data Transmission Capacity:[3]

With GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), you have a theoretical transfer speed of max.
50 kbit/s (40 kbit/s in practice).

With EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), you have a theoretical transfer
speed of max. 1 Mbit/s (500 kbit/s in practice).

Disadvantages[edit]

In less populous areas, the weaker digital signal transmitted by a cellular phone may not be
sufficient to reach a cell tower. This tends to be a particular problem on 2G systems deployed on
higher frequencies, but is mostly not a problem on 2G systems deployed on lower frequencies.
National regulations differ greatly among countries which dictate where 2G can be deployed.

Analog has a smooth decay curve, but digital has a jagged steppy one. This can be both an
advantage and a disadvantage. Under good conditions, digital will sound better. Under slightly
worse conditions, analog will experience static, while digital has occasional dropouts. As
conditions worsen, though, digital will start to completely fail, by dropping calls or being
unintelligible, while analog slowly gets worse, generally holding a call longer and allowing at
least some of the audio transmitted to be understood.

Advantage[edit]

While digital calls tend to be free of static and background noise, the lossy compression they
use reduces their quality, meaning that the range of sound that they convey is reduced. Talking
on a digital cell phone, a caller hears less of the tonality of someone's voice. [citation needed]

Evolution[edit]
2G networks were built mainly for voice services and slow data transmission (defined in IMT2000 specification documents), but are considered by the general public to be 2.5G or 2.75G
services because they are several times slower than present-day 3G service.

2.5G (GPRS)[edit]
2.5G ("second and a half generation") is used to describe 2G-systems that have implemented a
packet-switched domain in addition to the circuit-switched domain. It does not necessarily provide
faster services because bundling of timeslots is used for circuit-switched data services (HSCSD) as
well. The first major step in the evolution of GSM networks to 3G occurred with the introduction of
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). CDMA2000 networks similarly evolved through the
introduction of 2.5G

2.75G (EDGE)[edit]
GPRS1 networks evolved to EDGE networks with the introduction of 8PSK encoding. Enhanced
Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), or IMT Single Carrier (IMT-SC) is
a backward-compatible digital mobile phone technology that allows improved data transmission
rates, as an extension on top of standard GSM. EDGE was deployed on GSM networks beginning in
2003initially by AT&T in the United States.
EDGE is standardized by 3GPP as part of the GSM family and it is an upgrade that provides a
potential three-fold increase in capacity of GSM/GPRS networks.The 2G digital service provided
very useful feature like; expended capacity and unique service such as caller ID,call forwarding, and
short messaging.

2G Shut Down[edit]
Australia[edit]
Telstra announced that they will shut down their GSM network by the end of 2016.. [4]

Canada[edit]
Sasktel announced that it would be shutting down its CDMA networks in 2015 or early 2016,
[5]
starting with its EV-DO network, which was shut down on September 30, 2014.[6]

United States[edit]
Various carriers such as AT&T have made announcements that 2G GSM technology in the United
States is in the process of being shut down so that carriers can reclaim those radio bands and repurpose them for future technology needs. The shut down will be complete by the end of 2016. All
2G GSM devices will lose service at some point between now and the end of 2016. [7]
This shut down is having a notable impact on the electronic security industry where many 2G GSM
radios are in use for alarm signal communication to Central Station dispatch centers. 2G GSM radios
must be replaced by newer generation radios to avoid service outages. [8]

See also[edit]

Mobile radio telephone, also known as 0G

1G

3G

4G

5G

2G spectrum scam, India

References[edit]
1.

Jump up^ "Radiolinja's History". April 20, 2004. Retrieved December 23, 2009.

2.

Jump up^ "CDMA Worldwide". Archived from the original on 30 January 2010.
RetrievedDecember 23, 2009.

3.

Jump up^ http://support.en.belgacom.be/app/answers/detail/a_id/13580

4.

Jump up^ http://exchange.telstra.com.au/2014/07/23/its-time-to-say-goodbye-old-friend/

5.

Jump up^ Addressing the demand for faster data

6.

Jump up^ beginning with its EV-DO network, which was shut down on September 30,
2014.SaskTel Turning Down EV-DO Data Service

7.

Jump up^ http://www.marketwatch.com/story/att-to-shut-down-2g-network-by-2017-2012-0803

8.

Jump up^ http://www.telguard.com/2GSunset/Overview