Tech Talks #2: From Analog Beginnings to the Future : The Wireless Revolution

Wireless communication has transformed the way we connect, share, and interact with the world. Starting with 1G in the 1980s, each generation of wireless technology has brought revolutionary advancements in speed, connectivity, and possibilities. Let’s explore this journey.

1G: The Dawn of Mobile Telephony

The first generation of wireless communication (1G) emerged in the 1980s in Japan to provide calling services with access speeds of only 2.4 Kbps. 1G networks use data transmission over Analog signals based on a technique called FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access). The 1G network has an operating frequency of about 800 - 900 MHz with channel capacity limited to 30 KHz. 1G network capacity is limited, so signal reception is poor, which is always accompanied by ambient noise. The advantage of a 1G network is that it has a simple infrastructure and requires fewer network components to develop.

2G: The Digital Leap

In 1992, the 2G wireless mobile network was born using Digital signals to replace Analog. The 2G network has many advantages compared to the 1G network such as being able to send SMS messages, and data transmission speed has increased to 64Kbps. Supports the use of multiple people on the same frequency band, making information more secure because all calls are encrypted. Furthermore, 2G was the first mobile network technology to support international roaming and provided better network coverage than 1G. The advent of 2G networks standardized frequency bands, allowing mobile devices to operate on both the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands. This means users can switch between carriers without changing devices or SIM cards, as long as the new carrier also supports the same frequency bands.

3G: The Age of Data

Launched in the early 2000s, 3G enabled mobile internet access for the first time. With faster data speeds, users could browse the web, send emails, and stream multimedia. It marked the shift towards smartphones and apps. 3G network was introduced to the world and officially commercialized in 2003. 3G network with data rate of 144 Kbps for mobile users, 384 Kbps was achieved for walking users and 2 Mbps for mobile users. successful home users. 3G network with broadband, sending and receiving large emails easily; Watch videos and chat online securely without interruption.

4G: The Era of High-Speed Internet

The introduction of 4G LTE in the 2010s brought broadband-like speeds to mobile devices.4G network can be said to be a mobile network that is popularizing very quickly and is extremely popular with users Launched in 2013, after 10 years the 3G network has become reliable, so the 4G network quickly became popular and almost all mobile devices registered to use the 4G network. 4G network has many outstanding features such as extremely fast access speed that can be 20 times higher than 3G and can reach 1.2 Gbps. 4G networks allow downloading large files and streaming high-quality videos without interruption on mobile devices. 4G networks operate on the 700 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2600 MHz frequency bands with better coverage and can improve call quality, allowing the development of many new services such as mobile payments, video conferencing. Cloud-based gaming and visualization.

5G: The Age of Hyper-Connectivity

The latest generation, 5G, is a game-changer with speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G. It supports massive device connectivity, ultra-low latency, and advanced applications like autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and AR/VR experiences.

Beyond 5G: The Future of Wireless

As we look ahead, 6G promises to redefine communication with terabit-level speeds, AI-driven networks, and holographic connectivity. It will enable unprecedented advancements in healthcare, education, and industrial automation.

Difference between the network generations:

Nowadays, no one talks about 1G or 2G networks anymore because almost all network operators have started shutting down old networks and only deploying new networks. Therefore, many people are interested in how 3G, 4G, and 5G are different so they can choose the right network carrier. Thus, mobile networks have evolved significantly over the past few decades. Each generation of mobile networks brings new features and innovations, such as improved call quality, higher data transfer speeds, and lower latency.

Wireless communication’s evolution demonstrates humanity’s relentless drive for innovation, making the world more connected than ever before.

Article by: Shivani Ram & Chirayu Mishra