GITEX 2012 INTERVIEWS ITU TELECOM World 2012 - Teletimes

Basim AsherMobile networks have rapidlyevaluated during the last onedecade. Mobile technologieshave become more of acommodity than a facility.The introduction of dataapplications and services haschanged the whole landscapeof mobile networks bandwidthrequirements. Mobile phonesare now equally been used forInternet, Social networking andemails as compared with justplacing a voice call.In the year 2000 the firstdigital standard for mobilecommunication was introducedknown as GSM (Global Systemfor Mobile Communication).GSM defines the standard forthe 2G technology, and was thefirst standard which involveddigital packet switching over thenetwork. Later 2.5G technologyknown as GPRS (General PacketRadio Service) was introduced4th Generation Mobile Networkswhich had a packet switcheddomain in addition to the circuitswitched domain. Even thoughthe GPRS didn’t provide a fastservice it was still considered tobe a major breakthrough.In 2003, the 3G network waslaunched commercially and wasto be a successor to the 2.5Gnetwork. The 3G network hadmany advantages over the 2.5Gas the data rate was improvedas well as data security was alsoimproved.Just recently the 4G network,also known as the fourthgeneration network, has beenintroduced. The 4G providesmobile ultra-broadband accessto all devices such as laptops,mobiles etc.A general overview anddifference between 3G and 4Gmobile networks is presented asfollows:3G Technology●●3G offers fast data transferspeed as high as 2Mbps.●●3G offers powerfulmultimedia services, usingwhich you can developa whole bunch of dataapplications such as videosharing, video conferencing.●●3G is a preferred platform formany popular mobile phonegames, especially thosewhich contain graphics andanimation.●●Subscription to 3G networksis expensive. Users prefer notto use 3G, as its cost detersthem.4G network●●4G offers more faster datatransfer speed as high as10Mbps.●●4G has far expandedcoverage and hence, offersmore or less constantconnectivity.●●Users, especially businessusers, are more likely to use4G, as it offers them moresecurity than 3G.●●Though 4G coverage isexpanding rapidly, it stillis not available in manylocations of world.As the new models ofsmartphones rolling out all have4G capabilities the telecomindustry has to update theirtowers so they can provide4G access to their users.Worldwide USA has been thefastest to develop 4G while thein UK mobile operator EE hasjust recently launched its 4Gnetwork in 11 UK cities.In conclusion, both 3G and 4Gnetworking have a great dealto offers in terms of speed andquality. Though in its infancyyet, 4G is expected to catchon and become the premierconnectivity technology incoming years.Contd. from page 09Machine to Machine Communication54 November 2012www.teletimesinternational.com