Mobile Phone Technologies. Comparison among 2G, 3G & 4G

Published: 09/09/2010 by Jorge Calderon

1G
• Released to the market in 1981.
• Uses digital signaling to connect the radio towers to the telephone system.
• Uses analog signaling to connect the radio towers to the mobile phones.

2G
• Released to the market in 1991.
• Frequently referred as Personal Communications Service, or PCS, in the US.
• Digitized not only the control link but also the voice signal.
• Transformed roaming to a semi-global facility.

2.5G
• Released to the market in 1999.
• 2.5G services enable high-speed data transfer over upgraded existing 2G networks.
• 2.5G is the first technology to use Internet-style packet switched networks.
• 2.5G is 2G cellular technology combined with GPRS (General Packet Radio Service).

3G
• Released to the market in 2006.
• 3G allows for wide-area wireless voice telephone, mobile Internet access, video calls and mobile TV.
• 3G technologies use a hybrid of circuit switching and packet switching.
• Voice calls are interpreted through Circuit Switching.

4G
• Released to the market in 2010.
• Referred as the "All-IP packet-switched network"
• Data rates of up to 100 Mbit/s when the client moves at high speeds relative to the station.
• Data rates of up to 1 Gbit/s when the client moves very slowly relative to the station.


See under "Attached Information" to obtain a PDF document with condensed and detailed explanations and comparisons of these technologies.