Generations in Telecommunication (1G, 2G, 3G, 4G)
Parameters | 1G | 2G | 3G | 4G |
Image | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Name | 1st Generation Mobile Network | 2nd Generation Mobile Network | 3rd Generation Mobile Network | 4th Generation Mobile Network |
Introduced in year | 1980s | 1993 | 2001 | 2009 |
Location of first commercialization | USA | Finland | Japan | South Korea |
Technology | AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System), NMT, TACS | IS-95, GSM | IMT2000, WCDMA | LTE, WiMAX |
Multiple Address/Access system | FDMA | TDMA, CDMA | CDMA | CDMA |
Switching type | Circuit switching | Circuit switching for Voice and Packet switching for Data | Packet switching except for Air Interface | Packet switching |
Speed (data rates) | 2.4 Kbps to 14.4 kbps | 14.4 Kbps | 3.1 Mbps | 100 Mbps |
Special Characteristic | First wireless communication | Digital version of 1G technology | Digital broadband, speed increments | Very high speeds, All IP |
Features | Voice only | Multiple users on single channel | Multimedia features, Video Call | High Speed, real time streaming |
Supports | Voice only | Voice and Data | Voice and Data | Voice and Data |
Internet service | No Internet | Narrowband | Broadband | Ultra Broadband |
Bandwidth | Analog | 25 MHz | 25 MHz | 100 MHz |
Operating frequencies | 800 MHz | GSM: 900MHZ, 1800MHz CDMA: 800MHz | 2100 MHz | 850 MHz, 1800 MHz |
Band (Frequency) type | Narrow band | Narrow band | Wide band | Ultra Wide Band |
Carrier frequency | 30 KHZ | 200 KHz | 5 MHz | 15 MHz |
Advantage | Simpler (less complex) network elements | Multimedia features (SMS, MMS), Internet access and SIM introduced | High security, international roaming | Speed, High speed handoffs, MIMO technology, Global mobility |
Disadvantages | Limited capacity, not secure, poor battery life, large phone size, background interference | Low network range, slow data rates | High power consumption, Low network coverage, High cost of spectrum licence | Hard to implement, complicated hardware required |
Applications | Voice Calls | Voice calls, Short messages, browsing (partial) | Video conferencing, mobile TV, GPS | High speed applications, mobile TV, Wearable devices |
CACKLE comment system