The difference between 3G and 4G

By On February 24, 2009 · 21 Comments

Excellent explanation about what is 3G and 4G, speed of the download  and different generation of wireless technologies by Craig Mathias.


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  • Liviu

    Really interesting, but I do not agree about EDGE being 3G.
    From my knowledge GPRS is 2G and EDGE is 2.5G

  • http://www.firstdigest.com Calin

    Hi Liviu! I know the same but look here:

    “2.5G provides some of the benefits of 3G (e.g. it is packet-switched) and can use some of the existing 2G infrastructure in GSM and CDMA networks. GPRS is a 2.5G technology used by GSM operators. Some protocols, such as EDGE for GSM and CDMA2000 1x-RTT for CDMA, can qualify as “3G” services (because they have a data rate of above 144 kbit/s), but are considered by most to be 2.5G services (or 2.75G which sounds even more sophisticated) because they are several times slower than “true” 3G services.”
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2.5G

    I believe that based on this topic you can start a never ending discussion (e.g. Windows vs. Linux :) )

    Thanks for comment!

  • Pingback: Tel4all.dk » Blog Archive » Wimax versus LTE

  • jack

    this is jack

  • Jon

    Man, I will watch anything Craig Mathias puts out…super helpful.

    thanks!

  • http://http//www.tusmobil.si Kosta

    Disagree about EDGE.
    2.5 G GPRS
    2.75 EDGE
    3G UMTS
    3.5G HSPA
    3.75G IMS
    4G LTE
     
     

    • andrew

      shut the fuck up

  • santosh

    Super helpful ! thanks Craig

  • http://www.techespot.com Jessica Magert

    What is the reason for delay in implementing 3G and 4G Mobile services?

  • http://blog.ioshints.info Ivan Pepelnjak

    A nice overview of the mobile generations (from 1st to 4th):

    http://www.nil.com/ipcorner/FirstMileWireless/

  • mokrab

    In my opinon the big difference is as follows:

    The 3 G used in WCDMA
    up to 5 Mhz as bandwhith whith only one frequency ( Indeed we have 2
    one for Uplink sense and the other is for the Downlink one)
    But the 3 g is
    interferences and noise sensitive meaning lowering capacity si our system

    is affected by noises
    The 4 G on LTE uses several sub carriers for some reasons like a way to fight some selectve interfrences affecting some frequencies we can cancel temporarily in one hand and in oher other

    we can also by serial to parallel change of the data before IFFT modulation to enlarge the duration of the symbol in order to prevent Intersymbol interferences

    The subcarriers ‘s choice is made deliberatly by time symbol as separation for the same goal

  • http://GOOGLE shaikshamsu

    THANKYOU GOOGLE VERY GOOD EXPELING ABOUT 3G/4G

  • http://streamyx4all.nexo.com/blog Wimax Daud

    Great post really useful article. We should get back to this site later to check some of other blogposts. Thanks!

  • Patrick Polimeni

    Superior document, thank you!

  • Phil

    What a wonderful explanation of the generational evolution of cell phone technologies! Who would have thought a few years ago that VoIP would fold into 4G? Thanks for this great presentation!

  • M J

    I found this extremely helpful. Thanks

  • JSL

    Now the better question is, if everything will be IP based, will it be using the shrinking addresses of IPv4 or will we see an overhaul/implementation of IPv6 in the stack?

    • kevincw01

      The 4G devices out now are using IPV4 addreses

  • D J

    You forgot to mention CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) – back in the 1G days …

  • Mike D

    Very nice presentation!

  • Big Man

    EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE!!!!!!