Modern wireless communication systems were marked by the intervention of the telegraph in 18 century. In 1876 scientist Thomas Edison invented the telephone known as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) which was established in Western countries.
From that moment new techniques were introduced to improve the quality of telecommunication services such as Modulation, Demodulation, and Cellular concepts.
In an aspect of wireless technology, we have various generations;
1G, is the first generation of wireless mobile communication where analog signals were used to transmit data. It was introduced in the US in the early 1980s and designed exclusively for voice communication.
Characteristics of 1G technology
The 1G mobile cellular system was an analog speech communication system. 1G has the following technologies;
In 1G were analog signals / analog systems, they cannot cover the long distance. 1G uses FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) techniques.
2G technology, is the second generation of a mobile telephone which used digital signals for the first time. It was launched in Finland in 1991 and used GSM technology.
2G is a digital technology and its signal uses a digital signal, which means they convert analog signal to digital signal and digital signal to analog signal. Digital signals can cover long distances. 2G cellular systems were deployed to overcome 1G limitations. In 2G new access techniques were introduced like TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access).
2G supports Voice and Data signals.
Characteristics of 2G technology;
In 2G technology, when the GPRS was introduced, it enables web browsing, e-mail services, and fast upload/download speed.
2G has the following technologies;
2.5G: Second Generation Networks
2.5G was original from the ideas of 2 G, 2.5 G this technology is also called GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). 2.5 G modifying the air interface so that it could handle data as well as voice. The data rate in GPRS (2.5 G) is very less. The data rate for GPRS is 56Kbps to 64Kbps.
2.75G: Second Generation Networks
The low data rate in 2.5 G leads to the move into 2.75 G generation. 2.75 G is also known as EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution). The data rate for EDGE is 170Kbps.
3G also called UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) with a data rate of 384Kbps. 3 G introduces video calling because of its high data rate.
3G support Voice, Data, and Video Signals.
Characteristics of 3G technology
Some drawbacks of 3G technology
Expensive mobile phones, high infrastructure costs like licensing fees and mobile towers, and a trained person required for infrastructure setup.
It was introduced in 2011. Have a high data rate with 1Gbps for stationary users (for low mobility or pedestrian speeds or fixed) and 100 Mbps for high mobility users.
Characteristics of 4G technology;
Key technologies for 4G are;
4G, have high speed and IP based.
5G is the official commercial in 2020 with a high data rate of about 5Gbps. Complete wireless with almost no limitations.
Benefits of 5g technology
