Mobile network generations refers to the different stages in the evolution of the mobile networks that we use on our smartphones. Every phone needs to make calls and connect to the internet. This is especially very important today as most services have gone digital and can now be found online. But it has not always been this way. It has been quite a journey, from the old (and painfully slow) analog radio networks to super-fast 5G.

Understanding the different mobile network generations will show how far technology has come.

Read: 4G LTE categories

The Mobile network generations

0G(Zero Generation)

All network types used before the first generation of cellular networks are referred to as 0G. 0G means zero generation, implying that such networks do not have a generation. Some experts or writers also refer to them as pre-1G cellular networks. These networks could only support voice calls and were usually location restrictive, i.e. the phone could only use that network in a particular area e.g. your street, or only in one region. Roaming was not allowed.

The call quality of these phones was terrible. The network was analog. The phones that could use this network were also very bulky. Some had to be built into very heavy suitcases before one could carry them around. Others were built into cars. A car phone was a huge symbol of prestige in those days. Examples of such networks are Motorola’s Mobile Telephone Systems (MTS), Improved Mobile Telephone Service (IMTS), Advanced Mobile Telephone Service (AMTS), RCC, etc. These networks were all used pre-1979.

1G (FIRST GENERATION)

In 1979, NTT DoCoMo rolled out a new cellular network in Tokyo, Japan. Before long, a similar network to the one invented by NTT called the Nordic Mobile Telecoms was implemented in Nordic countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, and even as far as Russia. The new 1G network could only support voice calls but it had a better call quality than the 0G networks. On the downside, however, the network was analog and needed antennas that were attached to the phone. Phone calls were also very insecure and easily tapped. Phone sizes were huge and consumed a lot of battery. Some of the best batteries of that era only lasted for 30 mins.

2G (SECOND GENERATION)

In Finland, in 1991, a new network was developed and released for use by the public. This kickstarted the second generation of mobile networks. 2G brought us SMS, MMS, and a very rudimentary form of WAP internet. 2G networks were now digital and calls became secure. Speaking about calls, the quality of calls bettered what the 1G networks had to offer. Phones became smaller and consumed less battery.

The 2G networks are CDMA, AMPS, GSM, and TDMA.

2.5G or GPRS which is represented on your phone with the symbol “G” is an improvement on the earlier 2G internet speeds.

2.75G or EDGE which is denoted as “E” on your phone is also a further revision of the 2G networks in 2003. It was meant to boost internet speeds as well.

3G (THIRD GENERATION)

In 1998, NTT DoCoMo developed what they called the third generation of mobile networks. For some reason, however, it was not available to the public till 2001. There are two networks considered to be third-generation. They are WCDMA and UMTS.

Now, while 3G networks did offer improved call quality over the 2G networks, its main focus was on improving internet speeds and connectivity. 3G brought with it video streaming and fast internet surfing. This is the era where mobile internet truly came of age.

Two further revisions to the original 3G networks were made and they all focused on boosting internet speeds. They are 3.5G also known as HSPA (H) and 3.75G also known as HSPA+ (H+).

3G networks are still the main networks used in many third-world countries today.

4G (FOURTH GENERATION)

As time went on and despite the revisions to the 3G networks, the speed was not enough. In 2006, in South Korea, an early form of 4G was launched called WiMax but it was restricted to the Asian country. The Western world did not adopt WiMax but quietly decided to work on their next-generation network. Finally in 2009, in the UK, Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks became available to the public.

4G LTE heralded online gaming, video conferencing, better call quality, and drastically reduced latency. Internet speeds were now really fast.

Further revisions to the 4G networks include VOLTE (voice over long-term evolution) which improves the call quality even more and 4.5G (4G+).

Read: 4G LTE Modems on Smartphones

5G (FIFTH GENERATION)

The fifth generation became commercially available in 2019 and it is still underway in many first-world countries. At the moment, there is no 5G coverage in third-world countries. Huawei which was at the forefront of 5G development and rollout plans has become the biggest casualty of a trade war between the United States and China. There are two main types of 5G networks currently being rolled:

• Low and Mid band (Sub 6Ghz)

• High band (mmWave)

mmWave 5G has the fastest data speeds known to man right now but the signal is weak and it does not cover a large area. If you are in a house, for example, the walls could obstruct the mmWave signal signals. It quickly improves when you go outside and have a direct line of sight with the mmWave 5G antennae. Sub 6Ghz is not as fast as mmWave but it has a wider coverage and better indoor reception.

5G will bring improved internet support for augmented reality as well as virtual reality, and remote control of smart devices over the internet such as surgeons performing surgeries from halfway across the world using smart equipment. 5G will also usher in the era of the Internet of Things.

These are the different mobile network generations. This brings us to the end of this post, I hope you learned something.  Please hit me up in the comment section. Till my next blog post, take care.

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