THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022, 5TH GENERATION OF WIRELESS PHONES

 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2022, 5TH GENERATION WIRELESS

Okay, another topic that I need to learn about (in addition to Cryptocurrency, and non-fungible tokens!!) - generations of wireless phones:

From:  https://justaskthales.com/en/generations-mobile-networks-explained/ 

Much of the conversation in the mobile industry at the moment is around what benefits we can expect to see with 5G  worldwide roll-outs. But many consumers will remember when 2G, 3G, and 4G were the latest innovation in mobile connectivity. Each generation of networks brought with it a significant milestone in the development of mobile communications, the benefits of which we’ve outlined below.

First Generation (1G)

First-generation mobile networks were reliant upon analog radio systems which meant that users could only make phone calls, they couldn’t send or receive text messages. The 1G network was first introduced in Japan in 1979 before it was rolled out in other countries such as the USA in 1980. In order to make it work, cell towers were built around the country which meant that signal coverage could be obtained from greater distances. However, the network was unreliable and had some security issues. For instance, cell coverage would often drop, it would experience interference by other radio signals and due to a lack of encryption, it could easily be hacked. This means that with a few tools, conversations could be heard and recorded.

Second Generation (2G)

The 1G network was not perfect, but it remained until 1991 when it was replaced with 2G. This new mobile network ran on the digital signal, not analog, which vastly improved its security but also it's capacity. On 2G, users could send SMS and MMS messages (although slowly and often without success) and when GPRS was introduced in 1997, users could receive and send emails on the move.

Third Generation (3G)

Third-generation mobile networks are still in use today, but normally when the superior 4G signal fails. 3G revolutionized mobile connectivity and the capabilities of cell phones. In comparison to 2G, 3G was much faster and could transmit greater amounts of data. This means that users could video call, share files, surf the internet, watch TV online and play online games on their mobiles for the first time. Under 3G, cell phones were no longer just about calling and texting, they were the hub of social connectivity.  (Note, 3G is going away - or has gone away - see note at bottom of today’s blog)

Fourth Generation (4G)

The introduction of 4G went one step further than the revolutionary 3G. It’s five times faster than the 3G network – and can in theory provide speeds of up to 100Mbps. All mobile models released from 2013 onwards should support this network, which can offer connectivity for tablets and laptops as well as smartphones. Under 4G, users can experience better latency (less buffering), higher voice quality, easy access to instant messaging services and social media, quality streaming, and make faster downloads.

Fifth Generation (5G)

The 5G network is on its way and is widely anticipated by the mobile industry. Many experts claim that the network will change not just how we use our mobiles, but how we connect our devices to the internet. The improved speed and capacity of the network will signal new IoT trends, such as connected cars, smart cities, and IoT in the home and office.

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Really the 5G network is more than just your phone - but the connectivity!!

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Now a diversion to IoT - what is IoT?

IoT is the “Internet of Things”.  So your Alexa “talks” to your internet - to your phone, to your doorbell, to your lights, to your television.  (Yes, I remember the “remote control” when I was a kid - me!!!  “Turn the channel to CBS - and I got out of my chair and changed the channel!!!)

5G can interact with your refrigerator (how much milk do I have), and with most things.  Where are my car keys?  Where did I park my car at the store?

Qualcomm says:

“1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G all led to 5G, which is designed to provide more connectivity than was ever available before.

5G is a unified, more capable air interface. It has been designed with an extended capacity to enable next-generation user experiences, empower new deployment models, and deliver new services.

With high speeds, superior reliability, and negligible latency, 5G will expand the mobile ecosystem into new realms. 5G will impact every industry, making safer transportation, remote healthcare, precision agriculture, digitized logistics — and more — a reality.”

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So, Karen has been learning this week - cryptocurrency/bitcoin, NFT, 5G.  Boy am I so much smarter!!!

LOVE WINS!!

Karen White

February 24, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

Note about 3G going away:

“Support for 3G, the 20-year-old wireless network standard, is ending in the US next year, when the major wireless carriers are planning to phase out service. That means many Trac phones, older Kindles, early iPads, and classic Chromebooks—any device operating on 3G—simply won’t be able to connect to cellular data networks anymore. The Wi-Fi radios on those devices will still work, but their mobile data capabilities are going kaput.

This so-called 3G sunset will come to pass at different times for different wireless providers. AT&T says it’s shutting down 3G services in February 2022. T-Mobile recently announced it would extend services to March 31 of next year, but not beyond. Verizon plans to pull the plug in December 2022. Carriers are shutting down 3G service in order to make way for the newer pieces of infrastructure that power the speedier 4G LTE and 5G networks currently expanding across the country.

Money is a major motivating factor behind the switch. LTE and 5G networks are just more logistically efficient to operate; get more users on one standard and there are essentially fewer moving parts to futz with. But there are also practical problems with continuing to service 3G customers. The connections operate on different signal frequencies. AT&T, for example, plans to reuse the spectrum that 3G currently runs on to fully enable its 5G capabilities. Without those wavelengths, the 5G signal simply won’t be as speedy. In order for the wireless future to flourish, providers say, 3G has to die.

“There’s really no backward compatibility when we look at LTE compared to 3G,” says Will Townsend, principal analyst of networking infrastructure at Moor Insights & Strategy. “That’s just because the standard was written 20 to 25 years ago. Unfortunately, when you go through some technology transitions, you don’t have backward compatibility. It’s just the nature of the way those standards and the architecture provide.”