1g vs 2g vs 3g vs 4g vs 5g comparison differences and

analysis
March 4, 2011
A look at the definition, throughput andtechnology used for various generations of
telecom technology. The comparison between1g vs 2g vs 3g vs 4g vs 5g helps
analyze capabilities of each of the technologies and features that can be supported by
each of them.

Throughput
Generation
/
(1G,2G,3G,4G,5
G)

Definition

Speed

1G

14.4
Kbps
Analog (peak)

Technology

Time period

AMPS,NMT,TA 1970
CS
1980

Features

During 1G Wireless
phones are used
forvoice only.
2G capabilities are
achieved by
allowingmultiple
users on a single
channel via
multiplexing.Duri
ng 2G Cellular
phones are used
for data also
along with voice.

2G

Digital
Narrow
band
circuit 9.6/14.
data
4 Kbps TDMA,CDMA

1990 to
2000

2.5G

Packet 171.2

2001-2004 In 2.5G

GPRS

Data

Kbps(p
eak)
20-40
Kbps

theinternet beco
mes popular and
data becomes
more
relevant.2.5GMulti
media
services and
streaming starts to
show
growth.Phones
start
supportingweb
browsingthough
limited and very
few phones have
that.

3.1
Mbps
(peak)
500700
Kbps

3G
has Multimedia
services
supportalong with
streaming are more
popular.In
3G, Universal
access andportab
ility across
different device
CDMA 2000
types are made
(1xRTT,
possible.
EVDO)
(Telephones, PDAs,
UMTS, EDGE 2004-2005 etc.)

3G

Digital
Broadb
and
Packet
Data

3.5G

14.4
Mbps
(peak)
Packet 1-3
Data
Mbps

4G

Digital
Broadb
and
Packet
All IP
Very

100300
Mbps
(peak)
3-5
Mbps

HSPA
WiMax
LTE
Wi-Fi

2006
2010
Now (Read
more
onTransition
ing to 4G)

3.5G
supports higher
throughput and
speeds to support
higher data needs
of the consumers.
Speeds for 4G are
further increased
to keep up with
data access
demand used by
various

high
100
throug Mbps
hput
(Wi-Fi)

5G

Probabl
y
Not Yet gigabits Not Yet

services.High
definition
streaming is now
supported in 4G.
New phones with
HD capabilities
surface. It gets
pretty cool.In
4G,Portability is
increased
further.Worldwide roaming is
not a distant
dream.
Currently there
is no 5G
technology
deployed. When
this becomes
available it will
provide very high
speeds to the
consumers. It
would also provide
Soon
efficient use of
(probably
available
2020)
bandwidth as has
Update:Sa been seen through
msung
development of
conducts
each new
tests on 5G technology.

Mobile phones: 1G 2G 3G 4G
1G
1G is short for first-generation wireless telephone technology. This generation of phones and networks is represented

by the brick-sized analog phones introduced in the 1980s. Subsequent numbers refer to newer and upcoming
technology.
2G
2G phones use digital networks. Going all-digital allowed for the introduction of digital data services, such as SMS
and email. 2G networks and their digital nature also made it more difficult to eavesdrop on mobile phone calls.
3G
3G networks are an in between standard. 3G is seen more as pre4G instead of a standard of its own. The advantage
3G networks have over 2G networks is speed. 3G networks are built to handle the needs of todays wireless users.
This standard of wireless networks increases the speed of internet browsing, picture and video messaging, and
handheld GPS use.
4G
4G (AKA Beyond 3G) is like the other generations in that its advantage lies in promised increased speeds in data
transmission. There is currently no formal definition for 4G, but there are objectives. One of these objectives is for 4G
to become a fully IP-based system, much like modern computer networks. The supposed speeds for 4G will be
between 100 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s.