3G Technology: The Future of Wireless Connectivity

What is 3G technology? You might have wondered lately what this two-figure word means. You read about it whenever you are reading a review about a recent mobile phone or a laptop. 3G technology is “the third generation of telecommunication hardware standards and general technology for mobile networking.” It is the upgraded version after 2.5G.

What is 3G?

It is “a radio communications technology that will create a bit pipe for providing mobile access to internet based services.” In simple words, this is a means to enhance mobility in our lives at a greater level. Through 3G networks, the network providers can offer the users a broad variety of much improved and sophisticated services.

History:

This technology started with 2G, and made its way to 3G by crossing 2.5G and 2.75G.

2G:

This is the technology most commonly found in current mobile phones. These networks mainly catered to voice data and slow transmission. These days, users need enhanced speed, thus 2G is no more in-demand.

2G features:

Phone calls
Voice mails
Reception of simple emails
10kb/sec speed

2.5G:

This was a little up gradation to this technology. General Packet Radio Service commonly known as GPRS was introduced, and the technology stepped a stair up. Now, it was 2.5G. GPRS could provide a data transfer speed of 56 kb/s up to 114 kb/s. It helps in WAP access, SMS, MMS, emailing and web browsing.

2.75G:

GPRS networks evolved to EDGE networks with the introduction of 8PSK encoding. EDGE is considered as both a 2.75G and a 3G technology feature. Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), or IMT Single Carrier (IMT-SC) is a rearward-compatible mobile phone technology that allows enhanced data transmission rates. It can be used for any packet switched application including multimedia and internet.

2.5G and 2.75G features:

Phone calls / fax
Voice mail
Send / receive large email messages
Web browsing
Navigation / maps
New updates
Speed 64-144kb/sec

3G:

Finally, the technology reaches 3G with introducing UMTS technology and UMTS networks. 3G services add a priceless mobile element to services that are already becoming an essential ingredient of modern business life: Internet and Intranet access, video conferencing, and interactive application sharing.

3G features:

Phone calls / fax
Global roaming
Send / receive large email messages
High speed Packet Access HSPA
Navigation / maps
Video conferencing
TV streaming
Electronic agenda meeting reminder
Combines a mobile phone, laptop PC and TV
Speed: 144kb/sec-2mb/sec

3G system capabilities:

144 kb/s or higher in high mobility (vehicular) traffic
384 kb/s for pedestrian traffic
2 Mb/s or higher for indoor traffic
Sharing of usage/rate information between service providers
Standardized call detail recording
Standardized user profiles
Interoperability and roaming
Capability to conclude geographic position of mobile phones and report it to both the network and the mobile workstation
Fixed and variable rate bit traffic Bandwidth on demand
Asymmetric data rates in the forward and reverse links
Multimedia mail store and forward

Difference between 3G and IEEE 802.11 Networks:

There is a major difference between both these technologies.

3G networks are broader and extensive area cellular telephone networks that evolved to integrate high speed Internet and intranet access, video telephony or video conferencing, and interactive application sharing.

On the other hand, IEEE 802.11 networks which are also known as WLAN or Wi-Fi are pretty short range and high bandwidth networks which were chiefly developed for data transfer.

Security:

As compared to 2G; the predecessor of 3G, latter has greater and superior level of security which is offered to the users. If it is permitted to make a check, UE can verify the network to which the mobile is being attached. In this way, users can attain a greater level of feeling secure and safe. As a replacement for the older A5/1 stream cipher, 3G uses KASUMI block crypto. This way, enhanced protection is offered to users, and their data can remain safe and out of the reach of impressionists.

Concerns and Issues:

3G has still not been allowed by many countries, sue to some issues. Also, there are some more issues that concern this latest technology. These are discussed below:

1. Countries complain that there are very expensive input fees attached to the 3G service licenses & agreements.
2. Also, they complain that there are abundant differences in the licensing terms.
3. 3G mobile handsets are expensive and hard to afford
4. Also, a lack of coverage is being noticed, as it is a fresh service yet.
5. In some countries, there are high prices of 3G mobile services together with Internet access.
6. Currently, there is a lack of user need for 3G voice and data services in a mobile phone.
7. Finally, there is a lack of member state support for financially troubled operators.

This is all about 3G technology, in short.

Written by “Seemab”

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Tags: 3G technology, mobile networking, mobile phones, radio communications technology, telecommunication hardware, web browsing