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2G, 3G, Next-G, 4G - What's the difference?

In this guide we're going to cover off the major differences between the different 'generation' networks and check
out some of the technical aspects of the different technologies. You'll need to have some understanding of basic
technological terms like megahertz. To make it easier we will link some of the terms back to our Understand the
Jargon page.
Before we start: What exactly is a 'G' or ' Generation'?
In a nutshell, each Generation is defined as a set of telephone network standards, which detail the technological
implementation of a particular mobile phone system.

1G - Analog
Introduced in 1987 by Telecom (known today as Telstra), Australia received its
first cellular mobile phone network utilising a 1G analog system. The analog
network was responsible for those bulky handheld 'bricks' that you might have
had the displeasure of using and your wallet the displeasure of buying (originally
retailed at around $4250).
The technology behind 1G was the AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System)
network. Permanently switched off at the end of 1999, AMPS was a voice-only
network operating on the 800MHz band. Being a primitive radio technology,
AMPS operated in the same manner as a regular radio transmission, much like
your UHF radio where the 800MHz band was split up into a number of channels
(395 voice, 21 control) via FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access). Each
channel was 30KHz wide and could support only one user at any time, meaning
that the maximum number of mobile phone users per cell tower was 395. The
tower assessed the signal strength of each user and assigned channels
dynamically, ensuring that channels could be reused by multiple towers without
interference.
Problematic? Yes, and not just a limited number of users..
Just like your UHF radio, anyone with a radio scanner capable of
receiving/transmitting on the 800MHz band could drop in on your call. Being
analog, the 800MHz band was also susceptible to background noise and static
caused by nearby electronic devices. However the simplicity of the AMPS design
meant it did have one advantage over later 2G networks - coverage. An AMPS
user could connect to a cell tower as far as the signal could be transmitted (often
>40km depending on terrain).
At its peak, the 1G network had around 2 million subscribers.

2G - Digital
Fast forward to 1993 Telecom, now known as Telstra, introduces the digital network. The introduction came about
to overcome many of the issues with the AMPS network highlighted above, with network congestion and security
being the most important two motivators. With this new technology came many of the services we now take for
granted - text messaging, multimedia messaging, internet access, etc, and also introduced us to the SIM card.
This fancy new digital network is called GSM - Global System for Mobile Communication, and its technological
backbone of choice is TDMA (similar to FDMA). The radio frequency band utilised by GSM is the 900MHz
spectrum and later introduced on the 1800MHz band.

So how is this network any better than AMPS? The secret lies in TDMA - Time Division Multiple Access. The
FDMA component splits the 900MHz (actually 890MHz to 915MHz) band into 124 channels that are 200KHz
wide. The 'time' component then comes into play in which each channel is split into eight 0.577us
bursts,significantly increasing the maximum number of users at any one time. We don't hear a 'stuttering' of a
persons voice thanks to the wonders of digital compression codecs, which we're not going to go into here.
Aside from more users per cell tower, the digital network offers many other important
features:
- digital encryption (64bit A5/1 stream cipher)
- packet data (used for MMS/Internet access)
- SMS text messaging
- caller ID and other similar network features.
Problems? You bet. Unlike its AMPS predecessor, GSM is limited severely in range.
The TDMA technology behind the 2G network means that if a mobile phone cannot
respond within its given timeslot (0.577us bursts) the phone tower will drop you and
begin handling another call. Aside from this, packet data transmission rates on GSM
are extremely slow, and if you're on Vodafone/3/Virgin/Optus you've probably had first
hand experience on this when you go outside your networks defined 'coverage zone'.
To overcome these two problems we're going to introduce two new networks - CDMA
and EDGE.

CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access. This branch of 2G was introduced by Telstra in September 1999 as a replacement
for customers who could receive a good signal on AMPS, but were outside GSM's limited range. The extended
range is achieved by removing the 'time' based multiplexing with a code-based multiplexing. A lower frequency
band (800MHz) also assisted in range by reduced path loss and attenuation.
Picture a room full of people having conversations - under TDMA each person takes their turn talking (ie time
division), conversely CDMA allows many people to talk at the same time but is the equivalent of each person
speaking a different language, ie in a unique code. This of course isn't exactly how it works, if you want to know
more there are some resources at the bottom of the page.

EDGE
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution. GSM introduced a GPRS based packet data network in 2001, with a
max speed of around 60-80kbps (downlink), equating to a download speed of 10kB/s - slightly faster than dial-up.
EDGE was later introduced as a bolt-on protocol (no new technology was required) increasing the data rate of the
2G network to around 237kbps (29kB/s).

Image: rfcafe.com

3G - The Mobile Broadband Revolution

Introducing the 2100MHz network. Three Mobile in conjunction with Telstra brought the 3G standard to life in
2005, servicing major metropolitan areas initially and over the following years expanding coverage to 50% of the
Australian population. Leased out to Optus/Vodafone/Virgin, the 2100MHz combined with a 900MHz network
forms the basis of all non-Telstra mobile broadband services, servicing around 94% of Australian residences.
The 3G standard utilises a new technology called UMTS as its core network architecture - Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System. This network combines aspects of the 2G network with some new technology and
protocols to deliver a significantly faster data rate.
The base technology of UMTS is the WCDMA air interface which is technologically similar to CDMA introduced
earlier, where multiple users can transmit on the same frequency by use of a code based multiplexing. Wideband
CDMA (WCDMA) takes this concept and stretches the frequency band to 5MHz. The system also involves
significant algorithmic and mathematical improvements in signal transmission, allowing more efficient
transmissions at a lower wattage (250mW compared to 2W for 2G networks).
The new network also employs a much more secure encryption algorithm when transmitting over the air. 3G uses
a 128-bit A5/3 stream cipher which, unlike A5/1 used in GSM (which can be cracked in near real-time using a
ciphertext-only attack), has no known practical weaknesses.
So how is 3G faster than EDGE?
UMTS employs a protocol called HSPA - High Speed Packet Access, which is a combination of HSDPA
(downlink) and HSUPA (uplink) protocols. The Telstra HSDPA network supports category 10 devices (speeds up to
14.4Mbps down) however most devices are only capable of category 7/8 transmission (7.2Mbps down), and its
HSUPA network supports category 6 (5.76Mbps up). These protocols have an improved transport layer by a
complex arrangement of physical layer channels (HS-SCCH, HS-DPCCH and HS-PDSCH). The technological
implementation of HSPA will not be discussed here but for a basic explanation feel free to watch the below video.
The only major limitation of the 3G network is, not surprisingly, coverage. As stated earlier the 2100MHz network
is available to around 50% of Australia's population and when combined with a 900MHz UMTS network available

to about 94%. As expected, the higher 2100MHz component suffers far more attenuation and FSPL and is often
considered a 'short range' mobile network which is why a lower 900MHz network is required to service many
regional and rural areas.

Next-G - 3G on Steroids
To overcome the coverage limitations of regular 3G, Telstra
introduced its Next-G network (considered a '3.5G' network) in late
2006, operating on the 850MHz spectrum. The lower radio
frequency coupled with a far greater number of phone towers is
responsible for Telstra's Next-G network being over twice the
geographical size (around 2.2 million square km) of any other
network, and servicing 99% of Australian residences.
Aside from coverage, the other major selling point behind the NextG network is its blisteringly fast network speed. Rated up to 42Mbps
(up to 5.25MB/s) the network has the ability to operate faster than
the theoretical maximum of most high speed cable internet services.
This is the result of an enhanced packet data network - HSPA+
which was implemented in 2008 as an upgrade to large portions of the Telstra network.
HSPA+ also known as Evolved HSPA, utilises Dual Carrier technology and 64QAM modulation order to deliver
these high speeds. HSPA+ is responsible for the 'Elite' and 'Ultimate' series modems released in 2010, with the
Elite capable of up to 21Mbps, and the Ultimate up to 42Mbps.
The Ultimate series modems theoretically double the speed of the Elite device by the utilisation of Dual Carrier
HSPA+. This big increase in speed is achieved by the use of dual antennas, you can think of an Ultimate modem
as having two Elite modems in the one unit. Combining this technology with MIMO "Multiple In Multiple Out"
architecture we can hope to see speeds increased to 84Mbps (ie doubling the 42Mbps) on the Telstra Next-G
network in the near future.

Image courtesy of wikipedia

If you'd like a simple explanation of Next-G,
I'd recommend this (somewhat corny) video
series produced by Telstra

http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/nextg/index.html?vid=1

4G - LTE-Advanced
Initially available in major cities, airports and selected regional areas in October 2011, Telstra's 4G network offers
significantly faster speeds, lower latency, and reduced network congestion.
The 4G network is based on LTE-Advanced - 3GPP Long Term Evolution. LTE is a series of upgrades to existing
UMTS technology and will be rolled out on Telstra's existing 1800MHz frequency band. This new network boosts

peak downloads speeds up to 100Mbps and 50Mbps upload, latency reduced from around 300ms to less than
100ms, and significantly lower congestion. For more technical details on peak 4G speeds check out our fastest 4G
speed guide.
Most areas in Australia 4G has a 15MHz bandwidth and operates on the following frequency ranges:
Tower Tx: 1805-1820MHz
Tower Rx: 1710-1725MHz
New South Wales and Victoria have a much smaller bandwidth of 10MHz and operate on the following
frequencies:
Tower Tx: 1805-1815MHz
Tower Rx: 1710-1720MHz
4G bandwidth (ie the width of frequencies we can send and receive on) is critical in supporting high speed and a
high number of users. Because in order for your connection not to get confused with someone else's, each user is
allocated a small sliver of frequencies that they can transmit on and nobody else can. You'll notice this most during
peak usage hours, where as more people start using the tower it will reduce the width of your (and everyone
else's) sliver of frequencies, resulting in each person getting a reduced download/upload speed.
Naturally this is a very simplified explanation (for more info read up on OFDMA and SCFDMA) but for our
purposes it will suffice.

When will I get 4G?

Telstra 4G is advertised as available within 5km of CBD areas
and airports offering speeds between 2Mbps and 40Mbps.
When launched the network was limited to major towns and
cities, but since late 2011 the network has expanded to
include most major regional towns, with plans to cover about
66% of the Australian population by mid-2013 by deploying
1000 new base stations.
The Telstra Next-G 850MHz network will no doubt remain the
backbone of Australian mobile coverage, with LTE 1800MHz
serving in high density residential and metro areas effectively
creating a 'hybrid' network. Multi-mode and multi-frequency
4G modems such as the Telstra 320U USB allow seamless
transition between 4G and Next-G networks when on the move, often a slight pause or delay is the most you'll
notice when your modem switches over to the other network.

Why 1800MHz?
Given the big reduction in coverage you might be wondering why Telstra chose to deploy its 4G network on the
1800MHz band. Like most decisions the biggest factor governing the choice is money. Already licensed by Telstra,
the underutilised 1800MHz network was previously used to provide 2G voice calling and text messaging services,
and 2G EDGE data services (often indicated by the 'E' symbol on your phone). By converting this band from 2G
over to 4G, the network can be deployed with drastically reduced cost and time to market. Instead of building new
cell towers, the existing 1800MHz antennas could be swapped with antennas designed for MIMO LTE services
and other hardware changes kept to a minimum.
The limited choice of available mobile spectrum means that for the next few years 1800MHz will remain the band
of choice for 4G services. Around 2015 the 700MHz "digital dividend" band will become available and we can
expect to see a much higher performing 4G network with far greater coverage, speed and signal penetration.

What about backhaul?

With a massive increase in speed, how can the cell tower transmit and retrieve all this extra data from the

Internet? Your 4G connection is only as fast as what the phone tower can provide you. Older EDGE or HSPA
networks can get away with E1 or optical fibre backhaul links (ie the link that connects the tower into the wider
network), but LTE services require a far more advanced Ethernet-based backhaul link. The transition from circuitswitched to packet switched (IP based) networks affords better QoS (through MPLS and other link/network layer
protocols) and significant reductions in latency.

MIMO

4G uses a technology called MIMO "Multiple In Multiple Out" where your modem uses two separate antennas at
once to deliver super fast speeds.
Normal 3G and Next-G signals are broadcast vertically polarised, where the wave travels "up and down". LTE
MIMO waves are slant polarised where each wave is rotated 45 degrees from the horizontal, mirrored so the first
is at 45 degrees and the other at 135 degrees. This smart little trick is called polarisation diversity and allows your
modem to distinguish two independent streams of data over the same frequency allocated by the cell tower.
Because our modem has two internal antennas each responsible for receiving one stream of data, it is absolutely
crucial we have two separate external antennas. We cannot use a 'Y' patch lead or some other trick to connect
both ports of the modem into one antenna, nor can we connect both external antennas into one port.
It is important to know MIMO is switched
on and off by the modem. The decision
whether to use MIMO is negotiated with
the cell tower, whereby the quality of the
received and transmitted signals are
assessed (a metric known as CQI). When
signal strength or quality is low it's difficult
for the modem to distinguish between the
two data streams, so when signal levels
drop below a certain threshold level,
MIMO is switched off and the modem
operates with only one antenna (Port 1 on
Sierra Wireless modems).

Useful Reading
GSM/AMPS/CDMA - http://www.apms.com.au/papers/cdma.html
QAM - http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/rf-technology-design/pm-phase-modu...

Excellent MIMO Resource - http://www.profheath.org/mimo-communication/single-user-mimo/

Link Budget Comparison between 2/3/4G - https://sites.google.com/site/lteencyclopedia/lte-radio-link-budgetinga...
GSM Technical Data - http://www.rfcafe.com/references/electrical/gsm-specs.htm
Telstra 4G - http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/387620/telstra_track_4g_lte_2011_/
4G vs Next-G - http://www.zdnet.com.au/lte-pull-is-capacity-not-speeds-telstra-33931084...
4G data rate - http://business.motorola.com/experiencelte/lte-depth.html
In Wikipedia we trust:
UMTS - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Mobile_Telecommunications_System
AMPS - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Mobile_Phone_System
2G - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G