3G Technology

What is 3G Technology?

3G is the next generation of technology which has revolutionized the telecommunication industry. Apart from increasing the speed of communication, the objective of this technology is to provide various value added services like video calling, live streaming, mobile internet access, IPTV, etc on the mobile phones. These services are possible because the 3G spectrum provides the necessary bandwidth.

Technically speaking 3G is a network protocol which refers to the generations of mobile phones and telecommunication equipments which are compatible with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) standards stated by International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The basic requirement for compiling to IMT-2000 standards is that the technology should provide peak data rates of atleast 200 kbit/s. It’s worth mentioning that speed isn’t the only criteria for deciding whether the network protocol is 3G or not. 3G isn’t just any high speed network but a protocol which has its own standards defined under IMT-2000 by ITU.

3G Technology is designed for multimedia communication. It provides services like higher data transfer rates. One of its key visions is to provide seamless global roaming, enabling users to move across
borders while using the same number and handset. According to ITU it is expected that IMT-2000 will provide higher transmission rates: a minimum speed of 2Mbit/s for stationary or walking users, and 348kbit/s in a moving vehicle.

Birth of IMT-2000

The concept of IMT came into existence in the mid-1980s at ITU. It took more than ten years for the approval of standards for the next generation systems. These standards are branded as IMT-2000. Under the technical specifications the spectrum between 400 MHz and 3 GHz was dictated technically suitable for the third generation. IMT-2000 is the result of collaboration of many entities, inside the ITU (ITU-R and ITU-T), and outside the ITU (3GPP, 3GPP2, UWCC and so on). This approval has made possible the full interoperability and interworking of mobile systems.

It facilitates five radio interfaces based on three technologies namely FDMA, TDMA and CDMA. The accommodated radio interfaces are : IMT-DS, IMT-MC, IMT-SC, IMT-TC, IMT-FT

Disadvantages of 3G Technology and its impact upon acceptability

• Penetration of internet is still below average in rural India. To understand the tech-savvy specifications of 3G technology will definitely be problem.

• This technology is not compatible with all mobile phones. The user has to buy a new mobile phone that can support 3G technology.

• Till its launch, there are only two service providers offering 3G technology service. Lack of multiple options might be a disadvantage.

• Video conferencing is not possible if one of the persons engaged in the conversation does not have 3G compatible phone.