Generations of Cellular Systems

Generations of cellular systems include:

AMPS GSM W-CDMA W-CDMA

1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation 4th generation

Cellular systems operate based on various protocols, and use RF (radio frequency) waves that propagate through the air for transmission of information. These systems typically use the 800-900 MHz or 1800-1900 MHz frequency band of the radio spectrum.

1st generation

AMPS: Advanced Mobile Phone System

The only system available in the United States until about 1997 The first system used for cellular telephony- is analog Uses the 800 MHz frequency band of the spectrum Is still being used widely - The number of subscribers began to decrease in 1999 due to migration to digital Utilizes FDMA (Frequency division multiple access) to separate users In FDMA, users are separated in frequency. i.e. mobile phones communicate at different frequencies than the others within each cell. The radio spectrum is shared among users

2nd generation

GSM: Originally: Group Special Mobile, now: Global System for Mobile Communications

Is the most popular system worldwide Originally developed in Europe Was later introduced into the United States Is a digital system for both voice and data transmission Uses the 900 and 1800 MHz frequency bands Utilizes TDMA (Time division multiple access) In TDMA, users are separated in time. i.e. mobile phones communicate in a different time slot than the others within each cell. Time is shared among the users

Differences Between 1G and 2G Cellular Systems

Traffic channels 1G systems use analog FM modulation; 2G systems use low bit-rate voice coding and digital transmission Encryption all 2G systems provide encryption to prevent eavesdropping Error detection and correction 2G digital traffic channels incorporate FEC for error detection and correction, giving higher power and bandwidth efficiency Channel access 2G systems allow each frequency channel to be shared by a number of users, using TDMA or CDMA techniques

GPRS (2.5G)

General Packet-Data Radio Service Demand for data services on mobile devices Enables Mobile Internet (text based services) Provides packet based always on service Max speed 115kbs (typical speed 30kbs) Existing GSM base stations can be modified to handle GPRS GPRS terminals (phones) can handle GSM

3rd generation

W-CDMA Wideband code division multiple access:

Provides much higher data rates Supports a larger number of users Enables features such as video, internet access, web browsing and complete worldwide operability Widespread introduction expected to begin by 2005 Utilizes CDMA (Code division multiple access) In CDMA, users are separated by a unique code assigned to them. i.e. each mobile phone can utilize the entire chunk of spectrum, and the unique code of each user is used to encode and decode the information during transmission

3rd Generation (3G)

UMTS(universal mobile telecommunications service) in Europe/Japan CDMA2000 in US Convergence of Internet and Mobile communications Enables Mobile Multimedia Roll-out 2002-2005 2Mbs (target), 64kbs (actual so far)

4th Generation (4G)

Roll-out 2006-2010 Development spurred on by failure of 3G to live up to hype Data rates of 100Mbs Cells may have ranges of only 100m, therefore millions of base stations will be required (picocells). True Mobile Broadband

4G

4G will natively support IPv6, so each device will have an IP address. 4G will be truly the mobile internet. Mobile users will outnumber Fixed users, and the fixed internet will need to adapt to remain compatible.

Technology Road Map from 2G to 3G

Global Wireless Services and Network Evolution

First Generation Second Generation Advanced Wireless Voice Services Wireless Data Services Digital Cellular Technology Analog Cellular Technology Macrocellular Technology Microcellular & Picocellular Technologies Wireless Intelligent Network Mid-80s
NMT TACS Analog AMPS

Third Generation Integrated Voice/Data & Wireless/Wireline Multimedia Services Location Services
Broader Bandwidth Channels with High Spectrum Efficiency Advanced Network/Software Architectures Advanced Coding & Signal Processing Techniques Intelligent Antennas Wideband Radios

Fourth Generation Tele-Presenting Distance Learning Intelligent Agent Services

Mobile Telephone Service

Knowledge-Based Network Operations Unified Service Networks

Mid-90s
GSM IS-54/ 136 TDMA IS-95/ cdmaOne PDC DECT

Year 2000+
W-CDMA UWC-136 cdma2000

Year 2010 ?

Source: IEEE Communications Magazine