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3g Technology
By Mike Ber, Sat Dec 10th
A ‘third generation’ wireless communications technology havingevolved from first generation analog, and second generationdigital, communication technologies. Whenever someone asks me to explain what 3G systems are, I tendto think of huge departmental stores. All your basic needs –plus a few extra items thrown in to spice things up – under asingle roof. A plea to modern man’s psychological need forconvenience. And that’s how it is with the current crop of 3Gpackages. A simple, all-in-one access to everything users couldever want from a mobile phone (and then some). But seriously now, what is 3G (or 2.5G for that matter)?Basically 3G systems are meant to be the ultimate upgrade to thecurrent 2G systems that are operating under the Global System ofMobile Communications (GSM). GSM is referred to as the SecondGeneration (2G) of mobile phone technology, with the old analogmobile phone system being the first. Since current 2G phonessend and receive data at only 9.6 Kilobits per second (kbps),the advent of text and multimedia messaging (MMS) has meant thatthe demand for drastically improved data transfer rates has beenvery strong.
3G systems are designed to offer increased voice capacity andhigher-speed data rates by providing a more robust wirelesspipeline. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), aregulatory and standards-setting body, states that any systemclaiming to be 3G must be capable of a minimum speed of 144Kbits/second, and theoretically going up to 2 Mbps. Very good,you might say. But why is there such a need for speed? Well, 3G systems aim to provide faster access to all kinds ofdata, thus turning your wireless phone (or appliance) into ahandier, cooler, tool. This speed is matched with the promisethat it will "keep people connected at all times and in allplaces." What results is the capability to access the Internetas you would at home, mobile instant messaging, enhancedmultimedia options, usability as a fax/pager/e-mail tool, aswell as the obvious premise of crisper and more stable voicecommunications. Very impressive, but not without a lion’s shareof problems. For starters, 3G services are bound to be ‘expensive’,especially due to the very high prices paid for 3G spectrumlicenses. Secondly, the services offered by 3G are nice, but arebeyond the current demands of the average user. So now we have asituation where the consumer is not satisfied with the currentlevel of service, yet is also balking at paying so much forsomething that resembles overkill. To fill the void, 2.5G has evolved. 2.5G radio transmissiontechnology is radically different from 2G technology because ituses packet switching. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) isthe European 2.5G standard, the upgrade from GSM. GPRS overlaysa packet-switched architecture onto the GSM circuit-switchedarchitecture. It is a useful evolutionary step on the road to 3Gbecause it gives telecommunications operators experience ofoperating packet networks, and charging for packet data. Datatransfer rates in 2.5G services
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can theoretically reach 64Kbps. It is important to note the resulting irony. Because 3G serviceswere too expensive and because the market was not ‘ready’ forthem, 2.5G evolved. Now, as it is said later, the evolution of2.5G has become an obstacle for 3G services to penetrate thecell phone market. However, 3G cannot be judged merely on the basis of costs andservices alone. The value of any consumer technology can only betruly measured in terms of its worth to the average user. Andwhen it comes to mobile communications, the needs of the‘average’ customer are already being fulfilled through 2G and2.5G. Most people do not need to use video conferencing orbrowse complete websites through their cell phones. Most of usare satisfied with constant coverage, the provision to check ouremail and maybe send a voice message or so. With all of thisavailable in quite affordable packages, experts are beginning towonder whether there actually is the massive demand to match thehype that was created when 3G first came into the picture. Market analysts are faced with the challenge of accuratelypredicting how much technology consumers will actually bewilling to pay for 3G services. With 3G providing features thatare ‘cool’ but expensive, and with cheaper and adequatealternatives available in the form of 2.5G, the pure cell-phonefeatures no longer hold any ‘pulling’ power. In fact, somecritics argue that 2.5G speeds are just fine, thank you, andprovide enough flexibility for most applications. The rapid development of wireless LANs based on the 802.11standard and the future 802.11g standard means that 3G systemsnow have serious competition. Although Wi-Fi support is stillpatchy (and suffers from the same security issues), and someusers prefer 2.5G and 3G systems instead of Wi-Fi due to thewidespread coverage, wireless LANs have completely taken overthe office environment. Not only that but wireless LAN systemsare getting faster and becoming more robust. There are plans todevelop 802.11 systems that approach 1.5 Mbps in theoreticalspeeds. Intel and others are also looking into developingmetropolitan area networks (MANs) that expand that 300 feetWi-Fi bubble to about 30 miles, or across an entire city. In the U.S, 3G services have been slow to start. Only in late2003 and early this year did commercial 3G packages evolve tothe extent that the general public became interested in them.Compare this with the presence of 3G services in Japan since2001 and the popularity of 3G networks in Europe since 2000(Finland launched it’s first network in late 2000). Compared tothe rest of the developed world, the U.S is lagging behind. Andhere is why: A much more developed lower-tier communications infrastructure(2G and 2.5G) has meant that there are more alternatives havebeen available to consumers. ‘Wi-Fi’ has become the latest ragewith tech-savvy consumers, and because it became availablebefore 3G systems were fully operational, it has captured asizeable share of the wireless business market. U.S companieshave several technical and legal issues in acquiring theappropriate spectrum for 3G use from the FCC. As technologybecomes more sophisticated and bandwidth increases, systemsbecome increasingly vulnerable to attack by malicious hackers(known as crackers) unless countermeasures are implemented toprotect against such activity. Ensuring secure wirelessconnections in a pre-requisite to any wireless service provider. Despite the obstacles, 3G is here to stay. The main issue is towork it into the market in such a way that it becomes useful forthe majority of people, and not just a select few. Ideally, weare looking at multi-tiered services that offer a combination of2.5G, 3G and Wi-Fi capabilities to one, national network.Eventually we would be using multiple networks to check ouremail, leave a message for a friend and download that bonusmusic video onto our PDA. Being part of a culture that revels onpaying a flat rate for unlimited access, I would expect such anetwork to offer different levels of service, with customersbeing charged according to their service package, and not havingto pay multiple fees for Wi-Fi and 3G access. Just as PC users are starting to wonder whether there really isa need for faster computers, the whole communications industrymight also be entering a period of transition (not just a fewyears but perhaps a decade or two) where new technologies wouldnot mean that older technologies become obsolete; rather, twoseparate consumer groups would emerge who would use the old andnew technologies side by side. About the author: Mike Ber is owner of www.Every.ca , and www.ComputerMagazine.ca |