What Is 3G

Hi friends,
This article is about the latest technology in mobile communications,3G yet to touch the Indian markets.

3G stands for 3rd generation technology.It can be viewed as an upgrade to the present technologies.This service offers very high data transfer both audio and video.
The Hierarchy of technologies are as follows:
1) 1G
This is the first one of this kind.It is analog in nature.
2) 2G
This is the first digital version.GSM(Global System for Mobile) and CDMA(Code Division Multiple Access) we use at present comes under this category.
3) 2.5G
An advancement to 2G and acts as a bridge between 2G and 3G.
4) 3G
5) 4G
This is the future.This already became a reality in some developed countries.

Technically, the main difference between 3G and 2G networks is how quickly data can be sent and received.For example an MP3 download in 2G takes in between 2-5 minutes where as in 3G,11 seconds-1.5 minutes.
Who can benefit from this?
Internet savvy people who need high data speeds will enjoy this technology.

Features:
This offers the combined services of Mobile phone,Laptop and TV.
Speed range is 144KB/sec-2MB/sec
Videoconferencing
Live TV
Global roaming
High-speed Web
Global positioning
Entertainment(Listening music,playing hi speed on line games,book tickets,watch streaming video etc)
News and Information

Apart from these,its applications are very helpful in areas like M-commerce.
This include trading shares,online transactions etc.

First precommercial version of 3G is lanched in May 2001 by NTT DoCoMo in Japan.In the same year,on October 1st,first commercial version was introduced.It became very popular.Since then many countries have been using its services.

What are the drawbacks of 3G
1.High bandwidth requirement
3G requires a bandwidth of 15-20 MH which is very high compared to 2G(30-200 KH).
2.High spectrum licencing fees
For any telecom company to offer this service,government have to allocate the spectrum.A spectrum simply determines the number of users a company can serve or offer this service.So if the spectrum allotted to a company is more,it can feed more number of customers.As the licencing fees is very high,companies find difficult to provide this technology.
3.Huge capital
All the infrastructure laid for 2G services becomes obsolete for 3G.Thus 3G requires seperate infrastucture which is costly.
4.Cost of upgradation
Upgrading to 3G will be an expensive affair.

3G is a truly a revolution in telecommunication.Lets wait and see to what extent Indian customers enjoy this one.

regards,
VIKAS ATHWAL