Generations in Telecommunication (1G, 2G, 3G, 4G)

Parameters 1G 2G 3G 4G

Image

1st Generation 2nd Generation 3rd Generation 4th Generation

Name
Mobile Network Mobile Network Mobile Network Mobile Network

Introduced in year 1980s 1993 2001 2009

Location of first
USA Finland Japan South Korea
commercialization

AMPS (Advanced
IMT2000,
Technology Mobile Phone IS-95, GSM LTE, WiMAX
WCDMA
System), NMT, TACS

Multiple
Address/Access FDMA TDMA, CDMA CDMA CDMA
system

Circuit switching
Packet switching
for Voice and
Switching type Circuit switching except for Air Packet switching
Packet switching
Interface
for Data

Speed (data rates) 2.4 Kbps to 14.4 kbps 14.4 Kbps 3.1 Mbps 100 Mbps

Special First wireless Digital version of Digital broadband, Very high

Characteristic communication 1G technology speed increments speeds, All IP

Multiple users Multimedia

High Speed, real
Features Voice only on single features, Video
time streaming
channel Call

Supports Voice only Voice and Data Voice and Data Voice and Data

Internet service No Internet Narrowband Broadband Ultra Broadband

Bandwidth Analog 25 MHz 25 MHz 100 MHz

 GSM: 900MHZ,
Operating 850 MHz, 1800
800 MHz 1800MHz 2100 MHz
frequencies MHz
CDMA: 800MHz

Band (Frequency)
Narrow band Narrow band Wide band Ultra Wide Band
type

Carrier frequency 30 KHZ 200 KHz 5 MHz 15 MHz

Multimedia Speed, High

Simpler (less features (SMS, High security, speed handoffs,
Advantage complex) network MMS), Internet international MIMO
elements access and SIM roaming technology,
introduced Global mobility

Limited capacity, not High power Hard to

secure, poor battery Low network consumption, Low implement,
Disadvantages life, large phone size, range, slow data network coverage, complicated
background rates High cost of hardware
interference spectrum licence required

High speed
Voice calls, Short
Video applications,
messages,
Applications Voice Calls conferencing, mobile TV,
browsing
mobile TV, GPS Wearable
(partial)
devices