3G- Introduction, Evolution, Deployment Strategy
The primary objective of this research is to discuss about the 3rd Generation Wireless Networks, their evolution/migration from 2G and/or other pre-3G technologies to 3G Technology, Spectrum Allocation and Licensing Policies, and the deployment strategies involved. In this paper, 3G would be referred to as IMT-2000 systems in most of the places, the context of which would be provided in detail later in this paper.
Introduction/Evolution of Cellular Telephony
The First generation (1G) Cellular Mobile Services was developed with the invention of the microprocessor and the digitization of the control link between the cell phone and the cell site, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These analog cellular systems were developed based on the Improved Mobile Telephone Service (IMTS)-a system which was launched by Bell Systems, in the 1960s with an aim to introduce direct dialing and higher bandwidth.
Second generation (2G) Cellular Mobile Systems was simply advancement over the First Generation Systems, when the analog systems got replaced with the Digital Systems. These systems digitized the control link as well as showed lots of improvements in the Voice Signal. They were developed during the end of 1980s. With this, achievement over better quality and higher capacity was introduced alongwith lower cost to consumers. Advanced security and roaming got introduced. The 2G systems (or so called Pre-IMT 2000 Networks) have been extensively deployed almost in the entire world and have evolved significantly over the years to offer improved performance and capabilities, especially for data services- introduced by EDGE, GPRS (so called 2.5G Networks).
Third generation (3G) The 3G systems refer to the IMT-2000 systems which has been given a global standard of 3G by the ITU. This is an evolution/enhancement of the existing and widely deployed pre-IMT 2000 systems with much more advancement in Data services and with higher bandwidth. It has opened the way to enable innovative applications and services (e.g. Multimedia, Live-video buffering, and Location-based services, among others). The first 3G network was deployed in Japan in 2001 by DoCoMo.
Fourth generation (4G) The 4G systems is another advancement to the “yet immature” 3G Systems in terms of handling a wide range of supported data rates in multi-user environments ranging from approximately 100 Mbit/s for high mobility applications such as mobile access, and up to approximately 1 Gbit/s for low mobility applications such as local wireless access. However, 4G systems are still in adolescence stage.
The author of this paper, Umesh Satija is a Graduate Student in MS in Telecom Management Program at Stevens Institute of technology, a 3G RF Consultant and the owner of this portal- www.4gwirelessjobs.com
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