3G

Today I was thinking of posting some basic information of 3G technology. Now a days 3G has become front page news of each and every news paper. Within 3 days of announcement 1 million people registered for this one. So here we go…………………

What will 3G mean for you?

3G is short for third-generation mobile telephony services. 3G guidelines will revolutionize the country's cell phone services, clearing the way for high-speed mobile connectivity in India.

3G phones work in higher bandwidths of 15-20 MHz. Currently, mobile phones work on 2G or 2.5G, and use 30-200 KHz bandwidth.

How do 3G services help us?

3G services enable video broadcast and data-intensive services such as stock transactions, e-learning and telemedicine through wireless communications

Packet-based data provides several advantages over the existing circuit-switched techniques used for carrying mobile voice. It allows higher call volumes and support for multimedia data applications, such as video and photography.

Users will be charged on how much data they transmit, not on how much time they are connected to the network, because with 3G you are constantly online and only pay for the information you receive.

Number portability

There is good news for all mobile phone users in India. The roadmap to introduce mobile number portability that will give cellphone users the freedom to choose their service provider while retaining their numbers has been readied too.

Cheaper, and better, phones

With 3G mobile services, which provide high-speed downloads of data, movies and videos, around six month away, mobile phone makers are getting ready to offer handsets for as little as Rs 3,500, against the currently available minimum price of over Rs 8,000.

Also, contrary to common belief, 3G will not be a premium service. Operators said a start-up package could cost around Rs 299, which is roughly what consumers pay for a fixed broadband service. Unlimited downloading may require subscribers to pay Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 a month.

Can you receive 3GSM services from your current mobile handset?

3GSM is a new technology and thus you cannot access 3G multimedia services using existing GSM handsets. So you will need to upgrade your mobile to be able to use these services.

What exactly do 3G spectrums do?

With 3G spectrums, your mobile can work for you even while you sleep. It sets your travel schedule and checks for jams along your route, whether you take the car/bus or the train. It can double up as cash and plastic money, a one-instrument payment system to pay for your tickets and purchases by simply texting the bank.

It can be your one-stop entertainment box that holds music files, downloads programmes you love while you're on the move.

It can work out what to do with incoming phone calls and messages -- direct voice calls to voicemail when you are in a meeting, for instance, but providing a discreet text summary of the caller and the nature of the call.

How is 3G different from 2G and 4G?

While 2G stands for second-generation wireless telephone technology, 1G networks used are analog, 2G networks are digital and 3G (third-generation) technology is used to enhance mobile phone standards.

While 2G is focused on voice, 3G supports high-speed data of at least 144 kbps enabling broadband Internet access on the mobile, and 'triple play' features like mobile TV and converged communication services.

3G helps to simultaneously transfer both voice data (a telephone call) and non-voice data (such as downloading information, exchanging e-mail, and instant messaging). The highlight of 3G is video telephony.

What are the issues regarding 3G for providers and users?

3G has successfully been introduced in Europe. But several issues continue to hamper its growth.

 High spectrum licensing fees for the 3G services.

 Huge capital required to build infrastructure for 3G services.

 Health impact of electromagnetic waves.

 Prices are very high for 3G mobile services.

 Will 2G users switch to 3G services.

 Takes time to catch up as the service is new.

In how many countries does 3G exist?

There are about 60 3G networks across 25 countries.

In which country was 3G spectrum first introduced?

Japan was the first country to introduce 3G on a large commercial scale. In 2005, about 40 per cent of subscribers used only 3G networks.

The success of 3G in Japan also shows that video telephony was the killer application for 3G networks. Downloading music was the biggest draw in 3G services.

India, which has 287 million wireless subscribers, saw its mobile user base grow 25 times in the last five years making it the second largest wireless market in the world after China.

Source…

rediff