1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G Wireless Phone Technologies Explained
There have been five generations of mobile networks so far. 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G represent the five generations of mobile networks where G stands for ‘Generation’ and the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 represent the generation number. Right now, we are discussing all the mobile network technologies one by one from the very beginning.
Features of 1G (First Generation):
Abbreviation: 1G
Full form of 1G: First Generation
Introduced in the year: 1970/1984
Technology: Analog cellular/AMPS, NMT, TACS
Frequencies: 800 MHz
Bandwidth: 30 kHz
Access System: FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)
Core Network: Circuit-switched/PSTN
1G (First Generation): 1G refers to the first generation of wireless phone technology introduced in the early 1980s. It used analog signals and had a frequency range of around 800 MHz. The bandwidth for 1G was relatively low, providing basic voice communication services without any data capabilities.
Features of 2G (Second Generation):
Abbreviation: 2G
Full form of 2G: Second Generation
Introduced in the year: 1980/1999
Technology: Digital cellular/GSM
Frequencies: Various bands including 900 MHz and 1800 MHz (GSM), 850 MHz and 1900 MHz (CDMA)
Bandwidth: 200 kHz
Access System: TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) or CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
Core Network: Circuit-switched/PSTN
2G (Second Generation): 2G emerged in the 1990s and brought digital communication to mobile phones. It used digital signals and employed various technologies such as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). The frequency bands for 2G varied between regions but typically ranged from 800 MHz to 1900 MHz. With increased bandwidth compared to 1G, 2G allowed for improved voice quality and introduced limited data services like text messaging and basic internet connectivity.
Features of 3G (Third Generation):
Abbreviation: 3G
Full form of 3G: Third Generation
Introduced in the year: 1990/2002
Technology: Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) or CDMA2000
Frequencies: Various bands including 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1900 MHz, and 2100 MHz
Bandwidth: 5 MHz
Access System: CDMA
Core Network: Packet-switched (IP-based)/Packet Network
3G (Third Generation): 3G was introduced in the early 2000s, providing enhanced mobile communication capabilities. It operated on a wider frequency range from 800 MHz to 2100 MHz. 3G brought higher data transfer speeds, enabling services like video calling, mobile internet browsing, and multimedia messaging. It offered increased bandwidth compared to 2G, facilitating faster data transmission and more advanced mobile applications.
Features of 4G (Fourth Generation):
Abbreviation: 4G
Full form of 4G: Fourth Generation
Introduced in the year: 2000/2010
Technology: Long Term Evolution (LTE)/WiMax
Frequencies: Various bands including 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz
Bandwidth: 20 MHz (can be aggregated for higher speeds)
Access System: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) or CDMA
Core Network: Packet-switched (IP-based)/Internet
4G (Fourth Generation): 4G, introduced in the late 2000s, represented a significant leap forward in wireless technology. It operated on frequency bands ranging from 700 MHz to 2600 MHz. 4G provided much higher data transfer speeds and lower latency compared to previous generations. With broader bandwidth, it enabled high-quality video streaming, online gaming, and advanced mobile applications, making it the foundation for many modern smartphone services.
Features of 5G (Fifth Generation):
Abbreviation: 5G
Full form of 5G: Fifth Generation
Introduced in the year: 2010/2015
Technology: 5G New Radio (5G NR)/MIMO, mm Waves
Frequencies: Various bands including sub-6 GHz (e.g., 600 MHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz) and mmWave (millimeter wave) bands (e.g., 24 GHz, 28 GHz, 39 GHz)
Bandwidth: Up to 100 MHz in sub-6 GHz bands, up to several GHz in mmWave bands
Access System: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) for sub-6 GHz, and millimeter wave (mmWave) for mmWave bands
Core Network: Packet-switched (IP-based)/Internet
5G (Fifth Generation): 5G is the latest generation of wireless phone technology, introduced in the 2010s. It operates on a range of frequency bands, including sub-6 GHz and mmWave (millimeter wave). Sub-6 GHz frequencies typically range from 600 MHz to 6000 MHz, while mmWave frequencies operate in the higher frequency spectrum above 24 GHz. 5G offers significantly faster speeds, ultra-low latency, and massive network capacity, enabling transformative applications like autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Its expanded bandwidth allows for high-quality 4K/8K video streaming, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) experiences.
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