Mobile Communications Standards 3G and 4G Essay Example

the advent of the smartphone, a major step forward in mobile technology. 3G also introduced the term "mobile broadband" because its speed and capability make it a viable alternative for high-speed internet browsing (3G vs 4G).

Current Status of 3G

Although, 3G has been in use for over a decade, it doesn’t show any signs of going the way of the 2G network anytime soon. 3G was superseded by 4G in 2009, but 3G remains in widespread use due to its expansive coverage when compared to 4G. There are over 190 3G networks operating in over 40 countries worldwide (3G vs 4G). 4G’s coverage pales in comparison to the massive 3G network.

The only 4G coverage available at the present time is in the vicinity of large metropolitan areas. 3G’s data transfer speeds have a minimum data rate of 2 Mbit/s for stationary or walking users, and 384 kbit/s in a moving vehicle (About Mobile Technology). 4G on the other hand can be up to 10 times faster, but speeds like this are only capable in certain areas where the network is capable of supporting such speeds. 3G remains relevant due to its wide coverage when compared with 4G and its consistent and still relatively high data transfer speeds. But as the 4G network grows, the future of 3G isn’t very promising. It is only a matter of time before 4G takes over completely.

Brief History of 4G

4G is the fourth generation of cell phone mobile communications standards and successor of the 3G standards. The world's first publicly available 4G service was opened in the two Scandinavian capitals Stockholm

and Oslo in 2009. 4G became available in the United States later in 2009. As opposed to earlier generations, a 4G system does not support traditional circuit-switched telephony service, but uses all-Internet Protocol (IP) based communication exclusively (3G vs 4G). 4G system provides mobile ultra-broadband internet access to laptops with USB wireless modems, smartphones, tablets, and to other mobile devices. A 4G network can be up to 10 times faster than 3G, letting consumers browse the web, download songs and stream movies more quickly and more often. Currently, Verizon and T-Mobile have the broadest 4G coverage. AT&T currently covers about a quarter of the U.S. population (Lee).

The Future of 4G

Because 4G is a relatively new communications standard, its use is currently somewhat limited due to the newness of the technology and its limited network coverage. But as time, technology, and the 4G network progresses and expands, so will the scope of its usage. Wireless providers are expecting and anticipating for a rapid expansion of their 4G networks. Data volumes on the mobile broadband network have increased by 8,000 percent over the last four years. One gigabyte of use is equal to about 35 hours of streaming music or 5 hours of streaming movies. By 2015, the network will handle the same amount of data traffic between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15 that it did in all of 2010, according to AT&T.

However, 4G has its skeptics. Some experts have expressed concern that 4G networks will end up overwhelmed in the same way 3G networks were when AT&T first introduced the iPhone to its networks in 2007. Additionally, users that

spend the extra money on phones and service plans for 4G speeds won’t necessarily be able to use the service everywhere because not every city is currently covered by 4G. Also, switching between the two networks creates a considerable lag as the phone reconnects from one network to the other. Verizon says that switching to 3G from 4G is automatic, but switching back is not.

The phone may alternate back and forth as it tries to connect, draining battery in the process. 3G still has a sizable hold on the market, but as 4G expands and we move into 2013 and 2014, some carriers are expected to try to switch subscribers to 4G-only phones. 4G has a lot of potential, there needs to be more coverage, not just localized coverage near major cities. In addition, the bugs in the network need to be worked out and 4G service providers need to be prepared for the inevitable explosion of 4G subscribers (Lee).

Conclusion

3G and 4G networks both have their unique pros and cons, but as the 4G network expands and becomes increasingly popular, 3G moves further into obsolescence. Though for the time being, 3G is still popular as its network is larger, more reliable, and more consistent than a 4G network. But mobile service providers are investing heavily into 4G and the network is getting better and better by the day. It is only a matter of time before 4G completely takes over and 3G becomes a technology of the past.