THE EVOLUTION OF MOBILE NETWORKS

Mobile Communication is a communication system whereby users communicate or access

information via a wireless channel without wire connections. Information is sent over the channel

as radio signals. The mobile phone is the most common wireless communications device used,

whose system was developed based on cellular concept. Japan launched the first system of mobile

phone in 1979 by Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT). It was then launched in Sweden,

Norway, Finland, and Denmark by The Nordic Mobile Telephones (NMT) in 1981. After then

there have been tremendous developments in the mobile phone system leading to generations of

mobile systems starting from the first generation to fifth. These generations differ in architecture,

speed and frequency, with transition from one generation to the next leading to better user

experience and return for investors. The first generation (1G) was analog and is used for voice

calls only to communicate between two radio stations, the second (2G) generation uses digital

signals to carry voice and data, the third generation (3G) enhanced speed of the second generation,

fourth generation (4G) increased the speed and mobility of generations before it , the fifth

generation (5G) is to converge the new technologies that include cognitive radio, nanotechnology,

cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), etc,

FIRST GENERATION (1G)

The first generation includes the Japan launched mobile system by NTT and the services by NMT

in some European countries and services launched by other companies in the early 1980s’. This

system uses a frequency band of 824-894MHz based on The Advanced Mobile Phone Service

(AMPS) Technology and consists of base stations having a radius of between 10Km to 25Km for

a geographical region. The modulation used is analog frequency modulation (FM) with 12 KHz

frequency deviation for the voice signal and digital frequency shift keying with 8 KHz frequency
deviation used for control signals. The multiple access technology used is Frequency Division

Multiple Access (FDMA), using a 30 KHz channel capacity. The speed attainable by 1G is

2.4Kbps. The drawbacks of 1G include non-availability of conversion of signals to analog leading

to a higher level of noise, worldwide roaming was not possible, poor capacity, poor handoff, and

insecurity. Later on, variations of AMPS such as E-AMPS and N-AMPS. Meanwhile in Europe,

The European Total Access Communications System (ETACS) was used which is also an FDMA

system.

SECOND GENERATION (2G)

Second generation came into existence in the late 1980s’ whereby digital access technologies such

as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) replaced

the FDMA used in 1G. TDMA disintegrate transmission signals into fragments and then uses a

time slot to transmit the fragment. The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) being

the most popular 2G technology uses TDMA and operates in the band 890-915MHz during uplink

and 935-960MHz for downlink.

CDMA fragments the signals into digitized segments using spread spectrum techniques

and then encodes each segment in such a way that each call has its own identity. In such a way

transmissions made simultaneously over the same mobile channel can be identified. This provides

a noninterference communication. The speed of 2G is around 6.4 Kbps and the band width is in

between 30KHz and 200KHz. It allows roaming, it can be used in sending text messages in Short

Message Service (SMS) and pictures in (Multimedia Message Service) and has a higher signal

quality than in 1G. Though 2G network improved on the drawbacks of 1G network, it has its own

drawbacks such as low data rate and inability to cater for complex data.
 In between the transition from 2G to 3G, 2.5G exists. 2.5G provides a data rate up to

164Kbps by the incorporation of technologies such as General Packet Radio service (GPRS) and

Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE). 2.5G has a packet switch domain. GPRS lessens

the connection time with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) through some switching protocols and

makes it possible for an ISP to charge subscribers in terms of the quantity of data used in

transmitting and receiving information other than using connection time.

THIRD GENERATION (3G)

Third generation networks have capabilities not performed by 2G and 3G. This system makes it

possible for users to enjoy high speeds of circuit switched data as well as packet switched data. 3G

was first launched in Japan, in the year 2001 by NTT Do Co Mo and was called Freedom of Mobile

Access (FOMO). It was designed in compliance with IMT-2000 system based on Wideband Code

Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA). Data rates of 64Kbps and 384Kbps are achievable for

uplink and downlink respectively when a packet switched data transmission is carried out using

FOMO. This allows for internet browsing/surfing, applications, and multimedia files download,

sending and receiving emails with file attachments etc. Circuit switched transmissions can be

executed at an attainable speed of 64Kbps. Conversations using voice or video are examples of

services that make use of circuit switching.

The Universal mobile Telephone System (UMTS) is a 3G cellular system used in Europe.

It operates at the 2GHz band, though might differ in other countries due to variations in frequency

allocation resulting from differences in planning and policies. Therefore, frequency band of

1.8GHz to 2.5GHz is used. A 5MHz frequency band is used for both uplink and downlink

transmissions in this WCDMA scheme using an interface known as UMTS Terrestrial Access

Network (UTRAN). Quadrature Phase Shift keying (QPSK) is used as the modulation scheme.
Speeds of 144Kbps, 384Kbps and 2Mbps could be attained under the conditions of fast movement,

slow movement and stationary, or indoor use respectively. At some moments, UTRAN becomes

unreliable, making it necessary for UMTS to switch to GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network

(GERAN). Error detection is accomplished using Cyclic Redundancy Check and correction is

achieved using Convolutional and Turbo coding. Another type of 3G system called CDMA-2000

is the system used America.

As in the case of 2.5G, there also exist a 3.5G as well as 3.75G. 3.5G is known as High

Speed Download Packet Access (HSDPA). With this, download speeds of 8-10Mbps can be

achieved. In the case of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), a speed of up to 20Mbps is

attainable. 3.75G refers to the High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) technology. In HSUPA

uplink of up to 1.4Mbps as well as 5.8Mbps is attainable. It should be noted that the 3G system

could also be based on CDMA-2000 or TD-SCDMA.

FOURTH GENERATION (4G)

The fourth generation is based on the International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced

specifications (IMT-A). The specification is based on having a speed of 1Gbps for stationary and

pedestrian users and 100Gbps for high speed moving vehicles such as cars and trains. The first

field test on 4G was carried out in Japan in which a data rate of 1Gbps was achieved at a moving

speed of 20Km/hr. 4G makes use of IP so that technologies developed earlier could be on the

same platform. Its terminal mobility feature allows roaming between different mobile technology

networks. Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access

(WIMAX) belong to this generation.

The fifth generation is a network that connects human, machines, objects, and various devices

together. It offers high speed, high throughput, and high efficiency connection. The system makes

use Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and will be assigned according to location and network. 5G

also uses Software Defined radio (SDR) in its terminals. Full deployment of 5G will enhance

Internet of Things (IoT) and critical communications such as communications during a disaster,

healthcare monitoring, drones/robotics, industrial communications, and driverless cars.