The Evolution of Mobile Communications Networks

5G, the fifth generation of wireless communication technologies, boasts several key characteristics that set it apart from its predecessors. These characteristics are designed to support the vast array of new applications, from consumer use cases to industrial applications and everything in between.

The link between 5G and smart infrastructure management promises to be transformative and multifaceted. At its core, 5G provides the high-speed, low-latency, and high-capacity data transfer capabilities that smart infrastructure systems need to operate effectively and in real-time.

But how did we get to this point?

The Generation Game

In mobile communications network technology, a ‘generation’ generally refers to an advance in the core characteristics of the service.? This means advancements like increased peak data rates, the introduction of new frequency bands, broader channel frequency bandwidth in Hertz, and a heightened capacity for multiple data transfers at the same time.

Every decade, approximately, since 1981, has seen the emergence of a new mobile generation. The initial transition was from analog (1G) in 1981 to digital (2G) in 1992. The year 2001 ushered in 3G, which brought multimedia support, spread spectrum transmission, and a minimum peak data rate of 200 kbit/s. By 2011/2012, we progressed to "true" 4G, characterized by all-IP packet-switched networks that offer mobile ultra-broadband access with gigabit speeds.

5G, the fifth generation mobile network, works to the IMT-2020(5G) standard.? Mobile and wireless networks all have a ‘wireless standard’; a set of specifications and protocols which define what technology can communicate through the network, and lays out the rules for how that communication is carried out.

Wireless Standards

The first global wireless standards were produced in 1999, and they have played an essential role in establishing regulations for internet connectivity, allowing everyday users to connect easily without having to delve into all the intricate technical details.? The early wireless standards (802.11a and 802.11b) are the foundations upon which the expansive online networks of today’s world are built.? Without technical standards and communication protocols broad internet usage and smooth communication between devices would be impossible.

The Evolution of Wireless Internet Connectivity

1G: The Analog Foundations of Today's Digital Networks

Everyone can remember 3G and 4G, but 1G and 2G were also generations of mobile networks, with 1G, the first generation of mobile networks, first coming into existence in the 1980s.? These early cellular networks were described as ‘analog’, since the voice is transmitted using analog FM modulation, even though the radio towers are connected by digital signals. ?Rather than a globally agreed standard, 1G was governed by a range of different standards, the most widely adopted being the Nordic Mobile Telephone standard.

2G: Smaller Phones and Greater Connectivity

The 2nd generation of cellular telecommunications networks was launched in Finland in 1991.? 2G is described as ‘digital’, since the voice itself is encoded into digital signals for transmission.? Although there was more standardisation than in 1G, a global standard still didn’t exist. Most of the world used the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, which uses ‘time division multiple access’ to allow several users to share the same frequency channel.? Japan, however, used the Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) standard, which had a weaker broadcast strength than GSM.? This meant that phones could be smaller and lighter, but often suffered from difficulty maintaining a connection.

2G networks outlived the 3G era, with mobile network providers in the UK saying that they have no plans to offer a 2G service after 2033.

3G: Going Beyond a Telephone Service Alone

The first commercial 3G network, offering faster data transfer and improved voice quality, rolled out in 2001.? For a service to be considered ‘3G’, it had to meet the technical standards outlined in the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) standard. The minimum peak data rate for a network to meet the standard was 144? kbits/s, but many ‘3G’ networks were higher speed than this.?

3G opened up the world of mobile communications, making it possible to access the internet anywhere there was network coverage.? Many other devices, such as security, care and fire alarms also use3G communication technology.?

In 2009, the first commercial 4G network was offered to customers of TeliaSonera, a Swedish telecommunications network, and from 2020, operators began to shut down 3G networks.? In the UK, every network except O2 plan to have switched off their 3G networks by the end of 2024, and O2 expect to switch off in 2025.

4G: Mobile Connectivity Moves into the Fast Lane

Every successive generation of mobile communications technology has been faster and had a greater network capacity, and 4G has a download speed of up to 150 Mbits/s in comparison to 3G’s 7.2 M/bits.? On the upload side, 4G can offer 50 Mbits/s to 3G’s 2 Mbits/s.?

4G set the stage for a more interconnected, data-driven world, paving the way for the next generation of mobile technology and by 2021, 58% of the world’s mobile telecommunications was using 4G.

The higher data speeds of 4G mean that mobile users experience internet speeds similar to that of broadband, making activities like online gaming, video conferencing and the transfer of large files more practical on mobile devices.? 4G has an all-IP (Internet Protocol) based network architecture, allowing for more efficient and flexible data transmission. This change meant that everything (including voice) is treated as data, paving the way for better integration with the internet.

4G has resulted in a more connected, data-driven world, with users being more interconnected than ever before.

5G: A Quantum Leap in Data Transmission

In 2019, telecommunication networks began introducing 5G globally. ?The 5G wireless standard was laid out by an industry consortium called the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, and defines 5G as any system which uses 5G NR (5G New Radio) software.?

5G provides a peak data rate of up to 20 gigabits per second, a significant increase over 4G’s 50 megbits per second. 5G networks are also designed to have up to 100 times greater capacity and efficiency than 4G.

The Critical Intersection of 5G and Smart Infrastructure

5G is the enabling communications technology which will allow smart infrastructure to reach its full potential, offering a more responsive, efficient, and interconnected environment. As cities and industries continue to evolve towards more sustainable and intelligent operations, the synergy between 5G and smart infrastructure becomes increasingly vital