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Evolution of Network Systems from 1G to 4G
The paradigm of mobile networks has shifted from the analog mobile generation to the fourth generation. Each step of mobile generation attempts to ensure the users can easily access communication reality that is a major phenomenon all over the globe. Each generation of mobile networks has aimed to provide users with a new and efficient set of services. The evolution of mobile networks has been necessitated by the increase in the number of subscribers to mobile networks. According to Pereira & Sousa (2017), the number of subscribers to mobile networks in 1997 was 214 million, while in 2016, the subscribers were around 2500 million. Japan, Europe, and North America founded the present mobile technology in the 1960s. The evolution of mobile networks from 1G to 4G has also enabled the switch from analog technology to digital technology. The 1G network system was introduced in the 1980s and entailed an analog-based communication system that only provides analog voice services. The first generation network only supported a 2.4kbps data bandwidth. Data was services were not provided in the 1 G networks. The second-generation network was a completely digital system and supported up to 64kbps of data bandwidth. Unlike the 1G network, the 2G network supported both data and voice transmission. The 3G network supported up to 2mbps of data transmission and had other features such as an increased capacity for high-speed data transmissions. The 4G network is the latest network to be developed that offers features such as high definition videos, high-end gaming, high-performance imaging, and graphical user interfaces that are highly sophisticated.
Agarawal et al. (2015) explored mobile networks’ evolution from 1G to 4G by explaining the changes in features that occurred at each step of development. According to them, the AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) was a popular analog first-generation system that was launched in the US. The NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone) and TACS (total access communication system) are among other analog systems used alongside the 1G network. The analog system used frequency modulation techniques for voice signal. A circuit switching technology formed the basis of the analog systems and offered voice communication without any form of data communication. Following the introduction of the 1G mobile network, mobile communication has experienced rampant growth in terms of the number of subscribers. Another key feature of the 1G network was the cordless telephone that was different from the early inventions in the communication sector. However, some limitations of the 1G network necessitated the development of the 2G network. Some of these limitations included less security and low capacity. The second-generation mobile networks were therefore developed to enhance features of the 1G network and create data communication.
According to Agarawal et al. (2015), 2G technology was introduced in the late 1980s and entailed digital data signaling. In the 2G network, the Digital Access techniques like the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and the Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) replaced the analog technology. The GSM (Global Systems for Mobile Communications) was among the wireless technology used in 2G networks. TDMA was deployed GSM to support multiple users in a communication system. The role of the TDMA was to divide data transmissions into fragments that make the transmission of data easier. TDMA assigns all the fragments a time slot for data transmission. The development of the data transmission technology ensured that a caller could not detect any of the fragmentations that took place in the encoding process. In general, GSM and 2G technology have been frequently improved to provide better and efficient services to its users. About 450 million subscribers worldwide use GSM technologies with 400 networks and international roaming of about 140 countries. The Code Division Multiple Access uses a spread spectrum technology to fragment speech into digitized segments for identification of each call. The CDMA can distinguish multiple transmissions that have taken place simultaneously on a wireless signal. The CDMA carries transmission on the wireless signal, freeing network space for the wireless carrier, and ensure interference-free calls are possible for the user. Unlike the TDMA that fragments signal by time, the CDMA fragments signal by codes resulting in less interference to the caller and an increase in network capacity. An important feature in the 2G technology is the improved network coverage and improved system capacity. However, its inability to handle complex data, its weak digital signal, and lack of support for high data rates necessitated the development of 3G technology.
According to Reddy et al. (2016), the third generation mobile networks greatly transformed mobile communications. 3G networks have fulfilled the requirements of the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000. A system to meet the requirements needs to have minimal peak rates of 200kbit/s. The Universal Mobile Telecommunication System is an important proposal for the IMT-2000. The UMTS deploys the TD-CDMA, TD-SCDMA, and the W-CDMA air interfaces with the nod B and the Base Station as its main components. The W-CDMA has advantages such as increased system capacity, high transfer rate, and statistical multiplexing that ensures communication quality. The W-CDMA system splits data into separate packets, which are then consequently transmitted via the packet switching technology. The packets can then be reassembled in correct sequences at the receiver through the use of the codes sent with each packet. The UMTS system has the capacity to provide a wide range of data rates of up to 144 kbps for vehicles in motion, 2mbps for stationery users, and 384 for individuals in slow motion, such as pedestrians. The third-generation communication network focused concentrated on multimedia applications like videoconferencing, video calling, world roaming, improved capacity, low cost, high-speed data, and better compatibility. Other features of the 3G network include high and enhanced internet access and value-added services such as Global positioning system and television. The 3G mobile network’s limitations are its high rate of power consumption, its need for a 3G compatible headset, the need for closer base stations, may be expensive, and the upgrading cost to 3G devices may be costly.
Samaria (2014) explored the transition to 4G and how the 4G network provides additional features not present in the other generations. According to Samaria, the increase in data requirement in communication has necessitated improvement of the uplink and downlink rates by putting higher modulation techniques. The Long Term Evolution (LTE) was launched by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to enhance UMTS’s future competitiveness. LTE is an evolution of the UMTS; therefore, UMTS components are referred to as EUTRA (evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access) and EUTRAN (evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network). LTE’s architecture consists of a distinct layer of IP connectivity for all the Evolved Packet System (EPS) and IP-based services that can handle communication procedures. LTE is a pure IP based system. An LTE network can be connected to a Non-3GPP system or a GPRS network. A majority of operators in the world choose LTE because of its flexibility. OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) enables LTE to have download rates of up to 100 Mbps for a 2*2 antennae. For the MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) terminals, the upload rates are about 50 Mbps. The OFDMA also provides efficient radio usage, better mobility, flexible spectrum utilization, and a high security and cost-efficient deployment that makes LTE system user friendly and reliable. The key features of 4G mobile communication networks are high voice quality, high spectral efficiency, easy access to the internet, video calling, streaming media, simple protocol architecture, and efficient broadcast. The limitations of 4G communication networks include hardware complexity, implementation is expensive and difficult, costly to consumers because of high data prices, and power-intensive. The 4G network’s limitations have necessitated the development of 5G networks, which will be less power-intensive.
According to Kanani et al. (2015), the world of communication has experienced several transformations over generations. Communication has moved from a plain voice communication system to a system based on IP systems. The rising demand for the communication industry is responsible for forcing technology to advance from the first generation to 4G. The modified facilities usually make it possible for users to expand their communications and business worldwide. The evolution of technology has resulted to easy access technology to users, thus saving their time.
Varshney (2012) explored the technical architecture of the 4G system and how it compares to the other generations. The multimodal device architecture of the 4G network system deploys a single physical system with multiple interfaces on different wireless networks to access services. The multimodal architecture also widens the effective coverage area as well as enhancing call completion. The multimodal architecture also provides reliable wireless coverage. The 3G and 4G mobile networks can all deploy a database with device capabilities that keep track of user preference and location and his or her network condition. The 3G and 4G networks’ architecture allows the users access to an overlay network that contains a number of universal access points. The functionality of the UAP is to select the wireless networks depending on the defined user choices and QOS specifications. UAP conducts QOS negotiation and renegotiation and protocol content adaptation on behalf of the user. The common access protocol can only become viable if the wireless networks are capable of supporting the access protocol’s two standards. 4G mobile systems have focused on the integration of wireless LAN, GSM, and Bluetooth, which are examples of wireless technology. The development in wireless technology by the 4G system can be contrasted by the previous generation systems whose focus was the development of new hardware and software. The 4G system supports personalized and comprehensive services, quality services, and stable system performance.
References
Agrawal, J., Patel, R., Mor, P., Dubey, P., & Keller, D. J. (2015). Evolution of mobile communication network: From 1G to 4G. International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Research, 3, 1100-1103.
Kanani, M. P., Shah, K., & Kaul, M. V. (2015). A Survey on Evolution of Mobile Networks: 1G to 4G. Network, 5, 9.
Pereira, V., & Sousa, T. (2017). Evolution of Mobile Communications: from 1G to 4G. Department of Informatics Engineering of the University of Coimbra, Portugal.
Reddy, M. H., Jaswanth, S., & Pramod, N. V. (2016). Evolution of mobile networks: from 1G TO 4G. Adv. Res. Electr. Electron. Eng, 3(4), 307-310.
Samaria, A. (2014). Age of mobile wireless communication networks: 1G to 4G. Advanced Research in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 3(1), 5-10.
Samaria, A. (2014). Age of mobile wireless communication networks: 1G to 4G. Advanced Research in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 3(1), 5-10.
Varshney, U. (2012). 4G wireless networks. IT Professional, 14(5), 34-39.