First of all, what does the "G" stand for in 3G and 4G names? In fact, everything is simple, the letter means "Generation" (English "generation"). Accordingly, 3G is a third-generation connection. Naturally, the higher the number at the beginning, the newer the technology, the better.

Generations differ from each other in the basic principles of operation, the frequencies used and the data transfer rate. At the same time, each generation includes different standards for cellular communication. So, the GSM standard widely used in the world belongs to the second generation, and UMTS - to the third. A new generation stands out only when fundamental changes occur.

Interestingly, with the triumphant march of 3rd and 4th generation networks, 2G networks are still widespread throughout the world. Indeed, in many developing countries, even an ordinary mobile phone is a luxury, what can we say about smartphones.

From the first generation to the fourth and beyond

Visible evolution of mobile communication technologies

It all started in the 80s of the last century, when the first mobile phones appeared that used analogue networks for communication, which would later be referred to as 1G. At that time, no one thought about any connection to the Internet. After all, mobile phones were just phones that could only make voice calls. In those years, there were many different standards: AMPS, TACS, NMT, AMPS and some others.

However, it quickly becomes clear that a digital format is needed for further development. Therefore, 2G networks were already digital. Their introduction began in the first half of the 1990s. Digital communication has not only improved audio quality and increased security, but also introduced features such as text messaging and data transmission at 14.4 kbps. Not much, but enough to check e-mail, which in those years usually sent only text messages. The GSM cellular standard (short for Global System for Mobile Communications) appears on the scene, and is still popular today. And also the CDMA(Code Division Multiple Access) standard is born.

Gradually, as the Internet begins to gain popularity, it becomes clear that higher data rates are needed. As a result, at the end of the 90s, an “addition” GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) was created to the existing GSM standard with a data transfer rate of up to 115 kbps. Then came the EDGE (Enhanced Data-rates for GSM Evolution) standard, which made it possible to achieve speeds of 384 kbps. Subsequently, to emphasize the importance of these steps, names such as 2.5G and 2.75G were even invented for the new standards. Thus, it was emphasized that they are superior to 2G in all criteria, but still not good enough to be considered a new generation.

The new standards not only featured higher speeds, but also allowed you to access the Web without additional steps. Whereas previously this required a prior connection, just as in the case of a dial-up connection on a personal computer. It was with 2.5G that the real era of mobile Internet began.

Thanks to GPRS and EDGE, cellular operators have been able to provide slightly higher speeds without having to completely upgrade their existing equipment. That is, the revolution was made with little bloodshed.

A small portable 4G modem will provide equipment with high-speed
Internet access anywhere in the network coverage

However, even then it became clear that in the future, fundamentally new technologies would be required to further increase the speed. Work began on a new generation, which was eventually named 3G. The main feature of the new standards was that they were originally created specifically for data transmission, and not just for voice calls. However, it was also necessary to ensure the simplest possible transition to new standards.

The result was the emergence of the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and CDMA2000 standards, which meant reaching speeds of 2 Mbps. The first one became the choice of GSM-operators. By the way, for some time UMTS was even called 3GSM, emphasizing that this standard is successive.

Then, a little later, the HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) and HSUPA (High-Speed Uplink Packet Access) standards were introduced, which became the same “patches” as GPRS and EGDE used to be. 3.5G and 3.75G standards appeared, which made it possible to achieve speeds of 14 Mbps. However, it should be noted here that such figures are achievable only under perfect conditions. In fact, everything is twice as bad.

Owners of not only mobile devices with 3G, but also personal computers with laptops, who got the opportunity to connect to the Internet from anywhere where there is a mobile connection, began to actively use 3G networks. It was enough to connect a 3G modem to the device or use a 3G router. It became possible to conduct the Internet to very remote places, and by doing this in an easier way than laying many kilometers of wires.

Mobile equipment has also begun to appear, already having built-in 3G modems. Initially, only businessmen could afford such devices, but today no one can be surprised by inexpensive 3G tablets that support the ability to install two SIM cards at once.

Approximate speed of everyday tasks with 3G and 4G connection

But even this was not enough. Work began on the 4G generation, to which they decided to include all networks that are capable of providing speeds of 100 Mbps for mobile subscribers and 1 Gbps for fixed-line subscribers. In fairness, we note that so far no one has been able to achieve such indicators. However, existing 4G networks are still vastly superior to their predecessors.

4G includes the LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) standards. Moreover, in the second case, we are talking exclusively about data transmission, while the first still initially supported the usual transmission of voice calls (not through special services).

The very first 4G networks were launched back in 2009 in the Scandinavian countries, launched by the cellular operator TeliaSonera. Since then, they have become quite widespread throughout the world. Mobile devices capable of operating in LTE networks are gradually becoming the norm.

What awaits us next

While the deployment of 4G networks is only gaining speed, engineers
already working on 5G

The deployment of 4G networks is proceeding at a fairly rapid pace, although the territories covered are still hardly very large. However, scientists and engineers are already working on 5G. Moreover, successful results from trials conducted in Japan and South Korea are already being reported. However, if the 5G standard is introduced, it will not happen until 2020.

At the same time, there are suggestions that there is simply no future for 5G. The new standard may simply not be able to compete with the Wi-Fi networks that are ubiquitous today. There is even an opinion that in the foreseeable future, in all large and not very cities, free wireless connection will be available everywhere. Well, if so, then the need for new cellular communication standards capable of providing high speeds simply disappears. Moreover, the deployment of Wi-Fi is a much simpler procedure that does not require significant financial investments. As for ordinary voice calls, they are already beginning to experience serious competition from various services such as Viber, FaceTime and WhatsApp. Modern mobile operators, in fact, will turn into ordinary Internet providers.

But so far it is difficult to judge how it will all turn out in the end. I would like to believe only that the speed of networks will increase all the time, the cost of access to them will decrease, and their widespread deployment will not take too much time.

Meanwhile, the need for high speeds is growing all the time, obviously not keeping up with the growth of mobile Internet traffic. It is suggested that by 2017 the latter will be about 134 exabytes (1 exabyte is 1,073,741,824 gigabytes). To say that this is a lot is to say nothing. So, in 2006, the volume of all information stored on planet Earth barely exceeded 160 exabytes. At the same time, traffic volumes will grow mainly due to video transmission - this means not only watching YouTube videos, but also all kinds of video calls.