INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH IN EMERGING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY E-ISSN: 2349-7610

Overview on Generations of Network: 1G, 2G, 3G,

4G, 5G
Vignesh. C. R
Dept of MCA, Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, M.G.R Nagar (Hosur), Hosur-635 109
Vignesh.mca2014@adhiyamaan.in

ABSTRACT
Evolution is the essence of impact left behind by every being, every technology. We have well seen the advancements in the
field of Computer Network i.e. from a simple Telegraph invented in 18th Century to 5G Communication on the verge of being
implemented in South Korea. Needs of human beings never ceases to terminate, but they surely do result in invention of new
technologies to pacify them. In this paper, we provide an overview on Generations of Networks along with a brief introspection
on 5G technology that will provide access to wide range of telecommunication services in accordance with service demands in
multiuser environment.

1. INTRODUCTION 2. EVOLUTION OF MOBILE

We can say that wireless phone standards have a life of their TECHNOLOGIES
own since they are spoken of reverently in terms of 2.1. First Generation (From now on, referenced as 1G)
generations. The ancient stone-age sounding 1G, or analog
cellular, then like 80‟s rock came 2G, or digital cellular; 3G 1G cellular networks were invented in the 1980s.
wireless, 4G, 5G and so on. The last decade stood witness to The key idea behind 1G was that the geographical area is
remarkable burgeoning in the wireless industry, both in terms divided into cells (typically 10-25km), each served by a
of mobile technology and its subscribers. With all the “base station.” Cells are small so that frequency reuse can be
technological advances, and the simultaneous existence of exploited in nearby (but not adjacent) cells. This allows many
the 2G, 2.5G, 3G and 4G networks, the impact of services on more users to be supported in a given area. All 1G systems
network efficiency have become even more critical. And the were analog systems popularly known as early cellular phone
latest addition to this group, is the 5G technology, which technology working in the frequency band of 150 MHz The
promises to revolutionaries Internet as we know it with first commercially automated cellular network (the 1G
lightening fast speeds. generation) was launched in Japan by NTT (Nippon
Fig 1 Generation of mobile generation Telegraph and Telephone) in 1979, initially in the
metropolitan area of Tokyo. Within five years, the NTT
network had been expanded to cover the whole population of
Japan and became the first nationwide 1G network.
Technologies under 1G:
1G comprised of the following Mobile technologies:
Mobile Telephone Systems (MTS), Advance Mobile
Telephone Systems (AMTS), Push To Talk (PTT) and
Improved Mobile Telephone Service (IMTS).
Issues with 1G:

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Analog cellular phones are not very secure. Anyone fail, while analog got worse gradually, generally holding a
with an all-band radio receiver connected to a computer can call longer and allowing at least a few words to get through.
record the 32-bit serial numbers and phone numbers of While digital calls tend to be free of static and background
subscribers when calling can listen in on any conversation. noise, the lossy compression used by the codecs takes a toll;
This loophole was exploited in many scandalous ways. There the range of sound that is conveyed is reduced. You hear less
were also reported thefts of airtime. Anyone could collect a of the tonality of someone's voice talking on a digital cell
large database by driving around and go into business by phone, but you will hear it more clearly.[2]
reprogramming stolen phones and reselling them. 2.3. Third Generation (From now on, referenced as 3G)
International Mobile Telecommunications-2000
2.2. Second Generation (From now on, referenced as 2G) (IMT-- 2000), better known as 3G or 3rd Generation, is a
2G cellular telecom networks were commercially generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile
launched on the GSM standard in Finland by Radiolinja in telecommunications services fulfilling the International
1991. [1] 2G used digital signals for voice transmission and Telecommunication Union. [3]It uses Wide Brand Wireless
had a speed up to 64 kbps. It also provided the facility of Network with which clarity is increased. The data are sent
Short Message Service (From now on, referenced as SMS) through the technology called Packet Switching. Voice calls
and used the bandwidth range of 30 - 200 KHz. are interpreted through Circuit Switching. Along with verbal
Technologies under 2G: communication it includes data services, access to
2G comprised of the following Mobile technologies: television/video, new services like Global Roaming. It
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Code Division operates at a range of 2100MHz and has a bandwidth of 15-
Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobile 20MHz used for High-speed internet service, video
Communication (GSM) and Enhanced Data Rates for GSM chatting.3G uses Wide Band Voice Channel that is by this
Evolution (EDGE). the world has been contracted to a little village because a
Some key benefits of 2G Network over its person can contact with other person located in any part of
predecessors was that, Digital Encryption was supported by the world and can even send messages too[3].
2G systems which had higher penetration efficiency thereby Technologies under 3G:
being more efficient on network spectrum. Moreover, 2G  2G comprised of the following Mobile technologies:
introduced several data services for mobile, the most  3G Technology comprises of Wideband
prominent one being the famous SMS text messages. After CDMA, WLAN, Bluetooth, Universal
2G was launched, the previous mobile telephone systems Mobile telecommunication Systems
were coined as 1G Systems. Although it has been eons since (UMTS), High Speed Downlink Packet
its inception, 2G networks are still used in many parts of the Access (HSDPA). Data are sent through
world. packet switching. Voice calls are interpreted
using circuit switching. It also provides
Issues with 2G: facilities such as Global Roaming Clarity in
In less populated areas, the weaker digital signal voice calls, Fast Communication, Internet,
deployed on higher frequencies may not be sufficient to reach Mobile T.V, Video
a cell tower. Analog Signals have a smooth decay curve  Conferencing, Video Calls, Multi Media
while digital has a steppy one. This was seen as both an Messaging Service (MMS), 3D gaming and
advantage as well as a disadvantage. Under good conditions, Multiplayer Gaming.
digital sounded better. Under slightly bad conditions, analog Issues with 3G:
experienced static, while digital has occasional dropouts. As Although the usage price of 3G technology
conditions worsened, digital signals started to completely has greatly reduced since its inception due to wider

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adoption, it still is very costly as compared to 2G especially to users in an exposed position in between several
technologies. Due to high bandwidth transmission of base stations. In current research, this issue is addressed by
3G technologies, power consumption greatly macro diversity techniques, also known as group cooperative
increases which results in reduced device battery life. relay, and also by Beam-Division Multiple Access
The data consumption of 3G at times becomes so (BDMA).[5] Pervasive networks are a hypothetical
heavy due to the high transmission rates that it puts a amorphous concept where the user can be simultaneously
big load on the network; to alleviate which, many connected to several wireless access technologies and can
cellular operators implemented data usage caps seamlessly move between them. This technology has not yet
which were disadvantageous to customers. been efficiently implemented.
2.5. Fifth Generation (From now on, referenced as 5G)
2.4. Fourth Generation (From now on, referenced as 4G) The evolution of LTE does not end with LTE
In March 2008, the International advanced (release 10) rather continues to evolve into further
Telecommunications Union-Radio communications sector releases. Each new release further enhances system
(ITU-R) specified a set of requirements for 4G standards, performance and adds new capabilities with new application
named the International Mobile Telecommunications areas. Some of the additional applications, benefiting from
Advanced (IMT-Advanced) specification, setting peak speed mobile connectivity, are home automation, smart
requirements for 4G service at 100 megabits per second transportation, security, etc. [6]
(Mbit/s) for high mobility communication (such as from
trains and cars) and 1 gigabit per second (Gbit/s) for low
mobility communication (such as pedestrians and stationary
users).[4] A 4G system not only provides voice and other 3G
services but also provides ultra broadband network access to
mobile devices. Applications vary from IP telephony, HD
Mobile Television, video conferencing to gaming services
and cloud computing. One of the initial devices to access 4G
network was USB wireless modem which was later followed
by cellular phones with WiMax and LTE technology.
Technologies under 4G:
 4G comprised of the following Mobile technologies:
 Long Term Evolution (LTE) Standard based on the
GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA, 3rd Generation
 Partnership Project (3GPP), Multiple In Multiple
Output (MIMO) smart antenna technology,
Orthogonal Frequency Digital Multiplexing
(OFDM), 802.16e - Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access (WiMAX), 802.20 - Mobile
 Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA)
Issues with 4G: Figure 2 5G Network Model [10]
3G and 4G components made for one continent is
Need for 5G:
not always compatible with another continent sue to carrying
From user point of view, apart from
frequency bands. Another prominent issue in 4G systems is
throughput, other factors that differentiate 5G from
to make higher bit rates available in larger portion of the cell,

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its predecessors and makes its implementation services such as Mobile Portals, Mobile Commerce, Mobile
essential are: Health-Care, Mobile Government, Mobile Banking and
• Battery Consumption Alleviation several others are offered via Cloud Computing Resources
• Improved coverage range and higher data rate (from now on referenced as CCR). [7] The best feature about
availability at cell edge. cloud computing is that a user can access any data uploaded
• Multiple concurrent paths for data transmission and on the cloud ubiquitously from anywhere, from any terminal
hand over. with an internet connection or a secure connection to the
• 5G provides support for interactive multimedia, voice, storage cloud without the need to install any third party
video, Internet, and other broadband services which application or software’s.
are more effective and more attractive and have
Bidirectional accurate traffic statistics 5G technology offer high speed bandwidth for crazy
• An estimated mobility data rate of over 1Gbps with a cell phone users. The advanced billing interfaces of 5G
large broadcast capacity to 65,000 connections at a technology makes it more attractive and effective. 5G
time. technology also providing subscriber supervision tools for
• Improved security features; better cognitive fast action. The high quality services of 5G technology based
radio/Software Development Radio (SDR). on Policy to avoid error.
• Higher system level spectral efficiency.
• Worldwide wireless web (WWWW), wireless based The 5G core is to be a Re-configurable,
web applications that include full multimedia MultiTechnology Core. The core could be a
capability beyond 4G speeds. [6] convergence of new technologies such as
• Several Artificial Intelligence aided applications at nanotechnology, cloud Computing and cognitive
high bandwidth with multiple sensors enabled mobile Radio, and based on All IP Platform.[6] CCR links
devices. the Reconfigurable Multi Technology Core (from
• 5G technology offer high resolution for crazy cell now on referenced as RMTC) with remote
phone user and bi-directional large bandwidth shaping reconfiguration data from RRD attached to
[7]. Reconfiguration Data models(from now on
• 5G technology offer transporter class gateway with referenced as RDM). The main challenge for a
unparalleled consistency [7]. RMTC is to deal with an increasing number of
numerous radio access technologies. The core is a
5G Network Model is an All-IP based model for convergence of the nanotechnology, cloud computing
mobile and wireless network interoperability.[7] The All-IP and radio, and based on All IP Platform. Core
Network (from now on referenced as AIPN) has the capacity changes its communication functions depending on
to satisfy the ever increasing mammoth demands of the status of the network and/or user demands. RMTC is
burgeoning cellular market. It also is a general platform for connected to different radio access technologies
all radio access technologies and standards. All-IP Network ranging from 2G/GERAN to 3G/UTRANand
uses packet switching as compared to circuit switching used 4G/EUTRAN in addition to 802.11x WLAN and
its predecessors, and its continual evolution provides 802.16xWMAN. Other standards are also enabled
performance and cost optimization. In 5G, Network such as IS/95, EVDO, CDMA2000,etc. [9]
Architecture consists of a user terminal (which has a crucial
role in the new architecture) and a number of independent,
autonomous radio access technologies (from now on
referenced as RAT) [8]. AIPN based mobile applications and

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Multimedia &
streaming
services.

4G Digital 100300 802.16e Now High

Broadb Mbps WiMax, (Transi Definition
and (peak) LTE, tioning streaming sup
Packet 3-5 to 4G) ported.
3GPP,
All IP Mbps Portability
Figure 3 Modified OSI to support 5G MIMO,
Very increased
100 OFDM,
high further.
Genera 802.20

tion Definit Throu Technolo Time Features 5G Not Highe wwww Soon Dynamic

(1G - ion ghput gy period Yet r than (coming (proba Information

5G) Fixed 1Gbps soon) bly access,

1G Analog 14.4 PTT, 1970- 2020) Wearable

MTS, devices with
Kbps 1980
AI
(peak) AMTS,
Voice only. Capabilities
IMTS,
Table 1 Comparison of Generations of Mobile
AMPS,T
2.6 Communication Standards
ACS
2 G, Digital 9.6/14 TDMA,C 1990- Data 5G is a completed wireless system with yet no

2.5 connectivity,V limitation, some people also call it the “REAL wireless world
Narrow .4 DMA, 2004
oice “. Figure 3 shows the modification in OSI model to support
G band Kbps, GPRS,
5G technology which is explained below.
circuit Streaming
171.2 GSM,
data, with mobile
Kbps EDGE The two OSI layers i.e., Physical and Medium
Packet web browsing
Access Control layers define the wireless technology. For
Data support.
these two layers the 5G mobile networks is likely to be based
3G Digital 3.1 CDMA, 2004- Universal on Open Wireless Architecture. The network layer will be
Broadb Mbps WCDMA, 2005 access to support IP (Internet Protocol). Also various drawbacks of
and WLAN, different IPv4 (version 4) such as limited address space and no real
(peak)
Packet mobile possibility for QoS support per flow will be overcome by
500700 Bluetooth,
Data UMTS, devices made IPv6, but packet header size significantly increases. Still,
Kbps
possible along mobility still remains a problem. So each mobile device in
HSDPA
with 5G will have Mobile IP standard on one side as well as many
micro-mobility solutions (e.g., Cellular IP, HAWAII etc.)

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The mobile and wireless network varies from wired which recently lead to a comprehensive manifestation of
networks with respect to transport layer. In case of wired upcoming 5G system. As the history of mobile
network segments lost are due to network congestion, while communications shows, attempts have been made to reduce
in case of wireless networks losses are because of higher bit numerous technologies to a single global standard. 1G had
error ratio in the radio interface. For 5G mobile terminals fulfilled the need for a basic mobile voice, the 2G had
will have the possibility to download (e.g., TCP, RTP etc. or introduced capacity and coverage, followed by 3G, which
new transport protocol) version, which is targeted to a had a quest for data at higher speeds to open the gates for
specific wireless technology, installed at the base stations. truly a mobile broadband experience, which was further
This is called here Open Transport Protocol - OTP. With realized by the 4G. 5G promises to bring higher data transfer
respect to application layer, the ultimate request from the 5G speeds (reaching up to few gigabits per sec) and various
mobile terminal is to provide intelligent QoS management other high quality services. 3G came into India only recently,
over variety of networks. Today, in mobile phones the users and the cost for the same is still high. 4G is expected to come
manually select the wireless interface for particular Internet to India by the end of 2014, and there is no doubt that it will
service without having the possibility to use QoS history to be embraced by all telecom users, seeing yet another
select the best wireless connection for a given service. In monumental shift in Wireless Connectivity Technology.
case of 5G mobile phone the QoS parameters such as delay,
jitter, losses, bandwidth, reliability, will be stored in a 4. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
database with aim to be used by intelligent algorithms It gives us great pleasure in acknowledging the resources and
running in the mobile terminal as system processes, which at help received from the Computer Science Department, D. J.
the end shall provide the best wireless connection upon Sanghvi College of Engineering. We would also like to thank
required QoS and personal cost constraints. our parents for their support and encouragement.

Currently 5G technology is still in its Research and

REFERENCES
early development stages and it will be years before a perfect
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[3] 3G Wireless Networks - Clint Smith, Daniel Collins
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[4] Requirements related to technical performance for
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IMT-Advanced radio interface(s) - ITU-R, Report M.2134
barrier of gigabits per sec. It would also provide efficient use
[5] 5G mobile communication systems based on
of available bandwidth as has been seen through
beamdivision multiple access and relays with group
development of each new technology. 5G services would
cooperation - IT R&D program of MKE/IITA: 2008-F-004-
probably be successfully tested and implemented around the
01
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[6] Prospective of Fifth Generation Mobile
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3. CONCLUSION
Engineering & Technology (IJARCET) Volume 2, Issue 2,
As mentioned above, the last decade stood witness to an
February 2013
astounding growth in the network communication industry.
The ever-increasing demands of users triggered research and
led to development of various generations of technologies,

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[7] Functional Architecture for 5G Mobile Networks -

AleksandarTudzarov and Toni Janevski - International
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[8] An overview on 5G technologies - Prof. Kamal

Kumar Sharma, Assistant Prof. Chandan Kumar, Assistant
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JulyDecember 2013
[9] http://www.youthdomain.com/wp-content/uploads/-
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