International Journal of Engineering and Management Research, Vol.

2, Issue-1, January-2012
ISSN No.: 2250-0758
Pages: 57-61
www.ijemr.net

Features and Limitations of Mobile Generations

Taranpreet Kaur
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Mata Gujri College, Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, INDIA

ABSTRACT
Mobile communication is the transfer of
information over a distance without the use of enhanced
electrical conductors/ wires. The distances involved may be
short or long In the past few decades, mobile wireless
technologies have experience 4 or 5 generations of
technology revolution and evolution. Currently 5G term is
not officially used. At present, 3G mobile phone systems are
sustaining IP connections worldwide for all real and non-
real time operations. Subsequently, the platform of 4G is
formerly deliberated and it is sure that 4G comprises
heterogeneous standards under a same umbrella, as in 3G
but there is one exception of IEEE 802.XX wireless network
connection which is present in this network from the initial
progress phase. It is an emerging technology in all the fields
of mobile communication such as internet access, location
based services, video conferencing system, mobile financial
services, mobile entertainment services etc. The users can
use these applications at anytime and anywhere through
mobile communication. The aim of this survey is to
compare the challenges and issues that are involved in each
generation and explained how the improvements have been
made successfully in mobile communication from earlier
generation to modern generation.
Keywords--- 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
I. INTRODUCTION
Mobile technologies are developed at very rapid
growth. The 1G mobile systems gives a start up to the
cellular concept while, 2G systems provides various
features to the users. The 3G mobile systems provide
various attractive multimedia services. 4G system.
Increases the data rates to a great extent. It also
has high spectrum utilization ratio and low transmitting
power. Nowadays, a rapid growth in mobile technology
has satisfied the customer needs to a great extent but it is
still developing to a great height which makes the
people’s life easier. Since the start of this millennium, a
standard mobile device has gone from being no more
than a simple two-way pager to being a mobile phone,
GPS navigation device, an embedded web browser and
instant messaging client, and a handheld game Console.
Many experts argue that the future of computer
technology rests in mobile computing with wireless
networking. Mobile computing by way of tablet
computers is becoming more popular.
In 1947, researchers in AT&T and Bell labs
conceived the idea of cellular phones. AT&T requested
the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) to
allocate a large number of radio spectrum frequencies so
that wide spread mobile telephone service would become
feasible. Then, FCC agreed to license a very small band
to AT&T. This small frequency range made only 23
simultaneous phone conversations possible in one
service area. With 23 channels there was no market
incentive for either research or commercial deployment
for AT&T. So the idea of cellular was very much of
there in late forties, it did not take off.
The first wireless network was commissioned in
Germany in 1958. It was called ANetz and used analog
technology at 160MHz. Only outgoing calls were
possible in this network. Later this system was evolved
into B-Netz at the same 160MHz. In this new system, it
was possible to receive an incoming call from a fix
station. These systems were wireless but not cellular
networks. These systems did not have any function,
which permitted handover. Then later in 1968, in USA,
the FCC agreed to allocate a large frequency band. In
April 1973 Martin Cooper of Motorola invented the first
mobile phone handset.
By 1977, AT&T and Bell Labs constructed a
prototype of public cellular networks. In 1978, public
trials of cellular telephony system started in Chicago. In
1982, FCC finally authorized commercial analog cellular
service for the USA. A year later in 1983, the first
American commercial analog cellular service AMPS
(Advanced Mobile Phone Service) was made
commercially available in Chicago. This was the first
cellular mobile network in the world. During 1980s,
cellular phone experienced a very rapid growth in
Europe.
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 There was decent growth of cellular phone in
France and Germany as well. To take the advantage of
this growing market, each country in Europe developed
its own analog mobile systems. These cellular systems
were mutually incompatible. These incompatibilities
made the operation of mobile equipment and equipment
manufactures limited to national boundaries. Also, the
mobile subscriber of one network cannot use the same
device in another network. To cop up this problem
Europeans decided to evolve a standard for mobile
phone technology. In 1982, CEPT (Conference of
European Post and Telegraphs) formed a study group
called the GSM (Group Special Mobile) to develop a
standard for European mobile system. To give a global
flavor, GSM was renamed as “Global system for Mobile
Communications”.
Earlier mobile systems were wireless but not
cellular networks. These systems did not have Any
function, which permitted handover. These don’t have
any particular standard. Frequency band used in 0G
mobile phones was 150MHz to 450MHz. 1G refers to
the first generation of telecommunications. These are the
analog telecommunications standards that were
introduced in the 1980 and continued until being
replaced by 2G digital telecommunications. The main
difference between two succeeding mobile telephone
systems, 1G and 2G, is that the radio signals that 1G
networks use are analog, while 2G networks are digital.
Second generation 2G cellular telecom networks were
commercially launched on the GSM standard in 1991.
Three primary benefits of 2G networks over their
predecessors were that phone conversations were
digitally encrypted, 2G systems were significantly more
efficient on the spectrum allowing for far greater mobile
phone penetration levels and 2G introduced data services
for mobile, starting with SMS text messages. 3rd
generation is a standard used for mobile devices and
mobile telecommunication services and networks that
comply with the International Mobile
Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by
the International Telecommunication Union. The
communication spectrum between 400 MHz to 3 GHz
was allocated for 3G. It finds application in wireless
voice telephony, mobile Internet access, fixed wireless
Internet access, video calls and mobile TV.
The 4G (fourth generation) of mobile phone
communications is a successor of the third Generation
(3G) standards. A 4G system provides mobile ultra-
broadband Internet access.
Conceivable applications include amended
mobile web access, IP telephony, and gaming Services,
high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing and 3D
television. Recently, Android and Windows-enabled
cellular devices have fallen in the 4G category. One base
advantage of 4G is that it can at any point of travelling
time provide an internet data transfer rate higher than
any existing cellular services (excluding broadband and
Wi-Fi connections).
In India, Bharti Airtel launched India's first 4G
services, in Chandigarh, Mohali & Panchkula.
By using TD-LTE technology on March 20,
2013 and in Kolkata on 10 April 2012. It has already
launched the same service in Banglore on May 07, 2012.
Reliance Industries also going to launch a MiFi devices
that will allow Smartphone and tablet users to access
high speed internet on the go from their existing devices
and enable speedy adoption of its services when it kicks
off its much-awaited fourth generation (4G) offerings in
mid-2013. But with a growing number of consumers
accessing the net through smart phones and tablets, for
4G to quickly become a mass service, it will need to ride
on these devices. At present, there is only one smart
phone available in the market that runs on the 2,300
MHz band, the frequency on which 4G services will be
offered in the country.
II. 1G MOBILE COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM
1G refers to the first generation of mobile
communication system which was started in 1974 and
completed in 1984. 1G was developed on earlier stage to
communicate with the mobile phones through the
network of distributed transceivers. Analog System was
the first mobile wireless communication system used in
1G, which was based on an Advance Mobile Phone
Service (AMPS) technology. These first generation
systems provided voice transmissions by using
frequencies around 900 MHz and analogue modulation.
Its successor, 2G, which made use of digital signals, 1G
wireless networks used analog radio signals. Through
1G, a voice call gets modulated to a higher frequency of
about 150MHz and up as it is transmitted between radio
towers. This is done using a technique called Frequency-
Division Multiple Access (FDMA). In terms of overall
connection quality, 1G compares unfavorably to its
successors. It has low capacity, unreliable handoff, poor
voice links, and no security at all since voice calls were
played back in radio towers, making these calls
susceptible to unwanted eavesdropping by third parties.
Limitations of 1G Mobile Communication:
It does not have data service to convert the
voice into digital signals. Global Roaming Service was
not possible, low capacity, unreliable hand off, Poor
Voice Quality because in 1G, the data can be carried by
only one channel from source to destination .This means
that the two callers are not able to hear each other
simultaneously since the number of calls was limited.
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 II. 2G MOBILE COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM
The second generation of mobile networks
which were the next stage in the development of mobile
communication after 1G. 2G was started at 1980’s and
completed at 1990’s which were mainly for voice
transmission with digital signals and the speed up to 64
kbps. When compared to 1G, 2G was step ahead by
providing services such as short message services,
picture message services and Multi Media Message
services (MMS). In 2G ,two schemes such as Time
Division Multiple Access(TDMA) and Code Division
Multiple Access ( CDMA) were used .TDMA allows for
the division of signals into time slots and a special code
generated by a CDMA for each user in order to
communicate over a multiplex physical channel. The
most popular 2G wireless technology is known as Global
Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM). The first
GSM systems used a 25MHz frequency spectrum in the
900MHz band. Today, GSM systems operate in the
900MHz and 1.8 GHz bands throughout the world with
the exception of the Americas where they operate in the
1.9 GHz band. Within Europe, the GSM technology
made possible the seamless roaming across all countries.
While GSM technology was developed in Europe,
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology
was developed in North America. While GSM and other
TDMA-based systems have become the dominant 2G
wirelesses technologies, CDMA technology are
recognized as providing clearer voice quality with less
background noise, fewer dropped calls, enhanced
security, greater reliability and greater network capacity.
Limitations of 2G Mobile Communication:
Strong digital signals are required to make the
mobile phones work. Digital signals would be week if
there is no proper network coverage in the specified area.
Difficult to handle complex data such as video etc. 2G
Mobile communication system defines that the 2G
cellular systems can combine with the General Packet
radio Services (GPRS) or other facilities that are not
found in 2G or 1G network. In addition to circuit-
switched domain, 2G implements as packet switched
network to make use of 2G system infrastructure. It can
have a data rate up to 144kbps and the technologies used
in 2G are GPRS, EDGE, & CDMA. The major features
are Camera Phones, Web Browsing Send/Receive E-
Mail Messages, Speed 64-144 kbps, Phone Calls, Take a
time of 6-9 minutes to download a 3 minutes Mp3 Song.
III. 3G MOBILE COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM
3G started in the 1980s. Initial plans focused on
multimedia applications such as videoconferencing for
mobile phones. As personal wireless handsets become
more common than fixed telephones, it is clear that
personal wireless Internet access will follow and users
will want broadband Internet access wherever they go.
Today's 3G specifications call for 144 Kb/s while the
user is on the move in an automobile or train. The
second key issue for 3G wireless is that users will want
to roam worldwide and stay connected. Today, GSM
leads in global roaming. Because of the pervasiveness of
GSM, users can get comprehensive coverage in Europe,
Asia and U.S. . . . A key goal of 3G is to make this
roaming capacity universal. A third issue for 3G systems
is capacity. As wireless usage continues to expand,
existing systems are reaching limits. Cells can be made
smaller, permitting frequency reuse, but only to a point.
The next step is new technology and new bandwidth.
The important feature of 3G technology is that it
provides higher data transmission rates and increased
speed of capability. 3G uses packet-switching
technology, which is more effective and faster than the
earlier circuit-switched systems, but it requires a
changed infrastructure to the 2G systems. The purpose of
the 3G is to provide more coverage and evolution with
lowest investment.
Limitations of 3G Mobile Communication:
Requires higher bandwidth. Cost for the 3G
mobile phone is high. Size of the phone is large.
Difficult to build the infrastructure for 3G the amount is
high for 3G Licenses Services.
IV. 4G MOBILE COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM
The objective of the 3G was to develop a new
protocol and new technologies to further enhance the
mobile experience. The new 4G framework to be
established will try to accomplish new levels of user
experience and multi-service capacity by also integrating
all the mobile technologies that exist In spite of different
approaches, each resulting from different visions of the
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future platform currently under investigation, the main
objectives of 4G networks can be stated in the following
properties: Ubiquity, Multi-service platform Low bit
cost. Ubiquity means that this new mobile networks
must be available to the user, anytime, anywhere. To
accomplish this objective services and technologies must
be standardized in a worldwide scale. Furthermore the
services to be implemented should be available not only
to humans as have been the rule in previous systems, but
also to everything that needs to communicate. In this
new world we can find transmitters in our phone to
enable voice and data communications, in our wrist, to
monitor our vital signs, in the packages we send, so that
we always know their location, in cars, to always have
their location and receive alerts about an accident, in
remote monitor/control devices, in animals to track their
state or location, or even in plants. Based on this view,
NTT DoCoMo, that has already a wide base of 3G
mobile users, estimates the number of mobile
communication terminals to grow in Japan from the
actual 82.2 million to more than 500 million units by
2010. A multi-service platform is an essential property
of the new mobile generation, not only because it is the
main reason for user transition, but also because it will
give telecommunication operators access to new levels
of traffic. Voice will loose its weight in the overall user
bill with the raise of more and more data services. Low-
bit cost is an essential requirement in a scenario where
high volumes of data are being transmitted over the
mobile network. With the actual price per bit, the market
for the new high demanding applications, which transmit
high volumes of data? (To achieve the proposed goals, a
very flexible network that aggregates various radio
access technologies, must be created. 4G denotes the
fourth generation of mobile communication system
which was introduced in the year 2010. 4G is the IP-
based mobile system that provides access through a
collection of radio interfaces. It has the capability to
provide speed of 100 Mbps – 1Gbps and has high QoS
(Quality of service) and security. It also offers various
kind of service at any time as per user requirements at
anywhere . The significant features of 4G technology are
video conferencing, location based services, tele-
medicine, high security, speed, capacity and low cost per
bit. The term MAGIC indicates in 4G as
M= mobile multimedia
A= any time any where
G= global mobility support
I= integrated wireless solution
C= customized personal service
Limitations of 4G Mobile Communication:
The usage of battery in 4G mobile phone is
more; Implementation of hardware is difficult,
complicated hardware is necessary, Exclusive network is
compulsory to implement the 4G network.
V. 5G MOBILE COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM
This technology is fifth generation of wireless mobile
network which was begun in late 2010s. It has almost no
limitation which makes it isolated or completed wireless
communication. Mobile users not had experience of such
a highly advance technology. An end user can also
connect their 5G mobile phones with their desktops to
have internet connection. It totally supported World
Wide Wireless Web. This communication technology
merges all enhanced benefits of mobile phones like
dialling speed, MP3 recording, cloud storage, HD
downloading in instant of seconds and much more that
you had never imagined.
Features of 5G:
The following are the features of 5G that makes
it extraordinary phone
• Faster data transfer rate as compared with last
generations.
• Huge memory, fast dialling speed.
• HD quality picture.
• More attractive and more effective.
• Peak uploading and downloading speed.
• Remote diagnostics.
• Up to 25 Mbps connection speed.
• High quality services to avoid errors.
• Bi-directional large bandwidth.
These all features will be most likely found in 5G
mobile phones
Future Prospective of 5G Technology:
5G mobile phones have bright future in the era
of development and technology. At present, each
desktop or laptop has assigned an individual IP address
to track the flow of data traffic but in future 5G mobile
phones will have permanent care of address and “Home”
IP address associated which tells actual location without
any error. Once a computer is connected to internet, then
it can easily connect with mobile phone as computer
sends a data packet to IP address of mobile set and as a
result, server present on IP address send
acknowledgement packet to real location through
message forwarding mechanism. 5G will use cloud
computing mechanism in their mobile phones i.e. it is a
technology that uses central data repository and internet
connection to maintain applications. At present,
operators are going through training of clod computing
technology and in future they implied tremendous
opportunities of cloud in 5G wireless networks. The
most effective and attractive feature of 5G will be its
advanced billing interfaces.
VI. CONCLUSION
This paper gives brief of generations of mobile
wireless technology. This revolution had started from 1G
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and emerging up to 5G. From the analog voice centric
first generation to the digital second generation, the goal
was to enhance the voice experience of a user, by
improving the quality of the communication while using
more efficiently the installed capacity. At the same time
the enhanced mobility provided by seamless handover
and the additional data communications capacity
(although very small) advanced and opened the doors to
future developments. Some of the developments was
brought by generation 2.5 namely by GPRS, which
improved data communications by supporting IP in the
GSM infrastructure. With the third generation the goal
changed from voice-centric to data-centric. Moreover
total mobility became an objective to pursuit. In this
generation it is possible to combine voice, multimedia
applications and mobility in a never experienced manner.
However, the global mobility, while an important
objective, was never really reached. At the same time
new applications demand more bandwidth and lower
costs. The newcomer fourth-generation tries to address
this problem by integrating all different wireless
technologies. This paper reviewed the various
generations of mobile wireless technology, their
performance, advantages and disadvantages of one
generation over other. In future the research work is on
real wireless world with no more limitations, wired
devices with artificial intelligence capabilities, Pervasive
Networks provides universal computing.
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