Dino Ligutan

DIGICOM

Generations of Wireless Communications

First Generation Technology (1G)
These are wireless analog telecommunication systems introduced in 1980s.
Technologies include Advanced Mobile Telephone System (AMPS) in US and Australia
introduced in 1983. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allocated 40MHz bandwidth within 800 to 900 MHz range. In 1979, Japan had established the
first cellular system named the Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT). In 1981, two
popular analog systems were Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) and Total Access
Communication Systems (TACS) where established in Europe. These systems use
frequency modulation to transmit signals with frequency division multiple access
systems (FDMA).

Second Generation Technology (2G)

In the late 1980s, cellular networks based on digital transmissions are taking
shape. Multiplexing techniques used are Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). What defines the beginning of 2G technology
is the emergence of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard.
GSM was first launched in Finland in 1991, featuring digitally encrypted phone
conversations. 2G also introduced data services for mobile, with SMS text
messages.

Figure 1. The GSM network architecture

Advantages:
1. The low power emissions helped address health concerns.
2. Going all-digital allowed for the introduction of digital services, such as SMS
and email.
3. Greatly reduced fraud.
4. Digital cellular calls are much harder to eavesdrop on by use of radio
scanners.
Disadvantages:
1. The weaker digital signal may not be sufficient to reach a cell tower,
especially those deployed on higher frequencies.
2. Digital signals will start to completely fail by dropping calls, while analog
slowly gets worse generally holding a call longer.
3. The range of sound that digital signal convey is reduced, thus changing the
tonality of someones voice.
GPRS:
Most GSM carriers are developing a service called General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS), a 2.5G technology. GPRS can theoretically provide IP-based packet data
speed up to a maximum of 160 Kbps. GPRS basically overlays a packet switching
network on the existing circuit switched GSM network. It can be used for services
such as Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) access, Multimedia Messaging Service
(MMS), and for Internet communication services such as email and World Wide Web
access.

Figure 2. The GPRS architecture

EDGE:
Stands for Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution, it introduces new methods at
the physical layer using a new form of modulation (8 PSK) and different ways of
encoding data to protect against errors. EDGE technology was invented and
introduced by Cingular, which is now known as AT&T. It is preferred over GSM due to
its flexibility to carry packet switch data and circuit switch data. The biggest
advantage of using EDGE technology is one does not need to install any additional
hardware and software in order to make use of EDGE technology; there are no
additional charges for exploiting this technology.

Third Generation Technology (3G)

3G technologies enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more
advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved
spectral efficiency. Services include wire are wireless voice telephony, video calls,
and broadband wireless data, all in a mobile environment. It consists of a generation
of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunication services fulfilling the
International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by ITU. Its
vision is to create a unified global set of standards requirements that could lead to
the commercial deployment of advanced multimedia wireless communications.
UMTS:
The best know example of 3G is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
(UMTS) which originated in Europe and is being used elsewhere. The overall idea is
that UMTS users will be able to use 3G technology all over the world under different
banners made possible by satellite and land based networks. The UMTS network

comprises: (a) the mobile terminal, (b) the base transceiver station (BTS), (c) the
cell site switch (CSS), (d) mobile service control points (MSCP), and (e) the UMTS
mobility service (UMS).
MMS:
While different applications are being envisioned for 3G, Multimedia Message
Service (MMS) is getting most attention. From man end-user point, it is an SMS with
pictures. Examples of MMS applications include push messaging, automated datagenerated graphics, picture messaging, cartoon delivery, and enhanced dating
service including photos. Another application uses the latest traffic-status
information and knowledge of location to generate a map of the quickest route to a
destination.
HSDPA/HSUPA:
High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) provides a smooth evolutionary path
for UMTS-based 3G networks allowing for higher data transfer speeds. It is a packetbased data service in Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) downlink
data transmission up to 8-10 Mbits/s over a 5 MHz bandwidth in WCDMA downlink.
High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) will enhance advanced person-to-person
data applications with higher and symmetric data rate, like mobile e-mail and realtime person-to-person gaming.

Figure 3. WCDMA based network system architecture

Fourth Generation Technology (4G)

4G is basically an extension in the 3G technology with more bandwidth and services
offers in the 3G. The expectation of eth 4G technology is basically the high quality
audio/video streaming over the end-to-end Internet Protocol (IP). In 2009, the ITU-R
organization specified the IMT-Advanced requirements for 4G standard, setting peak
speed requirements of r4G service at 100 Mbit/sec for high mobility communications
and 1 Gbit/sec for low mobility communications. A 4G system is expected to provide
a comprehensive and secure all-IP based mobile broadband solution to laptop
computer wireless modems, smartphone, and other mobile devices. CMDA spread
spectrum radio technology is replaced by Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple
Access (OFDMA) and other frequency-domain equalization schemes combined with
Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) scheme such as multiple antennas, dynamic
channel allocation and channel-dependent scheduling.
WiMAX:

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is a standardized version

of Ethernet intended primarily as an alternative to wire technologies to provide
broadband access to customer premises. It is a standard conforming to IEEE 802.16
and would operate similar to WiFi but at higher speeds over greater distances and
for a greater number of users. It is to provide wireless broadband access to building,
either in competition to existing wired networks or alone in currently unserved rural
or thinly populated areas. It is also intended to provide broadband connectivity to
mobile devices for about 15 Mbps capacity in 3 km cell coverage area.

Figure 4. WiMAX network system

LTE:
Long-Term Evolution is a standard for wireless communications based on 2G and 3G
technologies such as GSM and UMTS network technologies offering high-speed data
for mobile phones and data terminals. The goal of LTE was to increase the capacity
and speed of wireless data networks using new DSP (digital signal processing)
techniques and modulations that were developed around the turn of the millennium.
A further goal was the redesign and simplification of the network architecture to
an IP-based system with significantly reduced transfer latency compared to
the 3G architecture.

Figure 5. The general LTE network architecture

Fifth Generation Technology (5G)

5th generation mobile networks/wireless systems is a name used to denote the next
major phase of mobile telecommunications standards beyond the 4G/IMT-Advanced
standards. New standard releases beyond 4G are in progress by standardization
bodies, but are at this time not considered as new mobile generations but under the
4G technology. 5G networks are real wireless world which shall be supported by
Large Area Synchronized Code Division Multiple Access (LAS-CDMA), Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Multi-Carrier Code Division Multiple Access
(MC-CDMA), Ultra-wideband (UWB), Network-Local Multipoint Distribution Service
and IPv6.
5G technology going to be a new mobile revolution in mobile market. Through 5G
technology now you can use worldwide cellular phones and this technology
also strike the china mobile market and a user being proficient to get access to
Germany phone as a local phone. With the coming out of cellphone alike to PDA now
your whole office in your finger tips or in your phone. 5G technology has

extraordinary data capabilities and has ability to tie together unrestricted call
volumes and infinite data broadcast within latest mobile operating system.

Summary
Generat
ion
1G

Definitio
n
Analog

2G

Digital
Narrow
band
circuit
data

2.5G

Packet
Data

3G

Speed

Technolog
y
AMPS,
NMT, TACS
TDMA,
CDMA

Time
period
19701980
19902000

171.2
Kbps
(peak)
20-40
Kbps

GPRS

20012004

Digital
Broadban
d Packet
Data

3.1 Mbps
(peak)
500-700
Kbps

CDMA 2000
(1xRTT,
EVDO,
UMTS,
EDGE)

20042005

3.5G

Packet
Data

14.4 Mbps
(peak)
1-3 Mbps

HSPA

20062010

4G

Digital
Broadban
d Packet
All IP

100-300
Mbps
(peak)
3-5 Mbps
100 Mbps
(Wi-Fi)

WiMax
LTE
Wi-Fi

Now

14.4 Kbps
(peak)
9.6/14.4
Kbps

Features
Wireless phones are
used for voice only.
Allows multiples
users on a single
channel via
multiplexing.
Cellular phones are
used for data also
along with voice.
The internet
becomes popular.
Multimedia services
and streaming starts
to grow. Phones
start supporting web
browsing though
limited.
Has Multimedia
services support
along with
streaming. Universal
access and
portability across
different device
types are made
possible.
Supports higher
throughput and
speeds to support
higher data needs of
the consumers.
Speeds are further
increased to keep
up with data access
demand used by
various services.
High definition
streaming and
phones with HD
capabilities surface.

5G

Not Yet

Probably
gigabits

Not Yet

Soon
(probabl
y 2020)

Portability is
increased thus
making World-wide
roaming possible
sooner.
When this becomes
available, it will
provide very high
speeds to the
consumers by
efficient use of
available bandwidth.

Figure 6. Comparison of mobile cellular phones for each generation of wireless networks

References:
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=26330&seqNum=1
http://www.slideshare.net/noorec786/generations-of-network-1-g-2g-3g-4g-5g
http://www.academia.edu/3099956/Generations_of_Wireless_Communication._From_
0G_to_5G_Abhi
http://www.slideshare.net/mehzabeens/different-generation-of-wireliesscommunication-presentation
http://www.slideshare.net/mushtaqyousafzai1/umts-system-architecture-protocolsprocesses
http://www.tutorialspoint.com/wimax/what_is_wimax.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_(telecommunication)
http://www.slideshare.net/yusufd/introduction-to-mobile-core-network-17667704