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3G

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Mobile phone and data
standards

0.5G

2.5G

2.75G

CDMA2000 1xRTT/IS-2000
EDGE (EGPRS)

W-CDMA
- UMTS (3GSM)
- FOMA
TD-CDMA/UMTS-TDD
1xEV-DO/IS-856
TD-SCDMA
GAN/UMA

3.5G

HSDPA

3.75G

Frequency bands

3G (or 3-G) is short for third-generation technology. It is used in the context of mobile phone standards. The services associated with 3G provide the ability to transfer simultaneously both voice data (a telephone call) and non-voice data (such as downloading information, exchanging email, and instant messaging). In marketing 3G services, video telephony has often been used as the killer application for 3G.

Worldwide roll-out of 3G networks was delayed by the enormous costs of upgrading the equipment and spectrum licensing fees. Because 3G networks do not use the same equipment or radio frequencies as 2G, mobile operators need to build entirely new networks and license entirely new frequencies. The license fees in some European countries were particularly high, bolstered by initial excitement over 3G's potential.

Japan and South Korea were relatively quick to adopt 3G, because their governments prioritize technological infrastructure development, and spectrum licensing fees are minimal.

1 Background
2 Features
3 Standard 3G
4 Issues
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

The first country which introduced 3G on a large commercial scale was Japan. In 2005, about 40% of subscribers used 3G networks only, with 2G being on the way out in Japan. It was expected that during 2006 the transition from 2G to 3G would be largely completed in Japan, and upgrades to the next 3.5G stage with 3 Mbit/s data rates were underway.

The successful 3G introduction in Japan showed that video telephony was not the killer application for 3G networks after all. The real-life usage of video telephony on 3G networks was found to be a small fraction of all services. On the other hand, downloading of music found strong acceptance by customers. Music download services in Japan were pioneered by KDDI with the EZchakuuta and Chaku Uta Full services.

Technically, 3G networks are not IEEE 802.11 networks. IEEE 802.11 networks are short range, primarily internet access networks, while 3G networks are wide area cellular telephone networks which evolved to incorporate high-speed internet access and video telephony to these networks.

[edit] Background

It's estimated that there are about 60 3G networks in 25 countries around the world. In Asia, Europe and the USA, telecommunication companies use WCDMA technology with the support of around 100 terminal designs to operate 3G mobile networks.

In 2001, NTT DoCoMo - one of the giant telecommunication companies in Japan - was the first telecommunication company to launch a commercial WCDMA network. The introduction of 3G services within Europe began in early 2003.

The official 3G mobile network is the systems and services based on the ITU family of standards under the International Mobile Telecommunications programme, 'IMT-2000'. A boost was given to 3G mobile networks in Europe when the EU council suggested that the 3G operators should cover 80% of the European national populations by the end of 2005.

[edit] Features

The most significant features offered by third generation (3G) mobile technologies are the momentous capacity and broadband capabilities to support greater numbers of voice and data customers - especially in urban centres - plus higher data rates at lower incremental cost than 2G.

By using the radio spectrum in bands identified, which is provided by the ITU for Third Generation IMT-2000 mobile services, it subsequently licensed to operators. 3G uses 5 MHz channel carrier width to deliver significantly higher data rates and increased capacity compared with 2G networks.

The 5 MHz channel carrier provides optimum use of radio resources for operators who have been granted large, contiguous blocks of spectrum. On the other hand, it also helps to reduce the cost to 3G networks while being capable of providing extremely high-speed data transmission to users.

It also allows the transmission of 384kbps for mobile systems and 2Mbps for stationary systems. 3G users are expected to have greater capacity and improved spectrum efficiency, which will allow them to access global roaming between different 3G.

[edit] Standard 3G

International Telecommunications Unit (ITU): IMT-2000 consists of six radio interfaces

[edit] Issues

Even though 3G has successfully been introduced to European mobile users, there are some issues that are debated by 3G providers and users.

High input fees for the 3G service licenses;
Great differences in the licensing terms;
Current high debt of many telecommunication companies, making it more of a challenge to build the necessary infrastructure for 3G;
Member State support to the financially troubled operators;
Health aspects of the effects of electromagnetic waves;
Expense and bulk of 3G phones;
Lack of 2G mobile user buy-in for 3G wireless service;
Lack of coverage because it is still new service;
High prices of 3G mobile services in some countries, including Internet access (see flat rate).