3G
3G is the third generation’s mobile network. Thanks to 3G smartphones gained momentum. Before surf was relatively slow in mobiles. At the same time mobiles were released that had built-in receivers to be able to benefit from the new mobil network and quicker surf.
The predecessor was the GSM network. With 3G the transfer speed of data, or information, was 40 times faster. This lead to developers realizing that apps could be developed and USB outlets with 3G receivers because of the fact that data surf was fast enough to be used for work or leisure.
With 3G it was possible to send pictures, perform video calls, and use GPS in the car. First when the mobile carriers started to offer a fixed amount for a certain amount of data surf over the network it became more used in both mobiles and mobile broadband.
- 40 times faster than it’s predecessor.
- Made it possible with video calls between mobiles possible for the first time.
- Made it possible to mobile surf
- Social media such as Instagram quickly gained exposure due to the its’ expansion.
- Simultaneously more vulnerable if there are many sending data from the same area.
- Released mobile broadband for computers among others.
- Turbo is a development with faster speed within the same network.
The introduction of 3G in the world
It first launched in Japan by the carrier NTT Docomo 1998 after it had been developed for 15 years. Several countries across the world had to agree about frequency and technique standards. However, it took until 2001 until NTT Docomo made it available to the public.
The field though that before video calls, it would have a huge breakthrough. This is because mobiles and cameras made for video calls were released with this function. Instead it became 3Gs ability to download 3rd party applications. The downside of it is the bad reception inside that required bigger system development that previously expected.
There is also a development called 3.5G or Turbo. It is a network protocol within the network that allows even faster data transfer. In many mobiles it may instead say “H +”. This was introduced on a small scale in 2008 and since 2010 it has been available over the parts that already have 3G.
Mobile broadband
Unlike previous mobile networks, 3G introduced mobile broadband to the market. The operators then introduced subscription packages that focused solely on data surfing, and excluded services such as being able to make phone calls, send SMS or MMS and so on. This is because you can buy an SMS that you plug into a USB stick.
With 3G mobile broadband, you could start surfing at a speed up to 7.2 mbit theoretically as long as you had access to the so-called Turbo-network – although the speed usually amounted to 3 mbit. Should one lose coverage, the connection goes to GSM and the surfing speed is reduced significantly.
Nowadays, the EU has relaxed the fees for data surfing, including 3G within the EU. This means that you do not pay any extra fee for using 3G when you are abroad in another EU country. Restrictions exist but in general it is a development that benefits consumers within the Union.
4G, 5G and beyond
Although it’s still in use, it is not the fastest or most modern method of mobile data since 4G and 5G came into the picture. 4G was released in 2012 and is now spread all over the world. It is now also offered as standard, which means that those who still use 3G are most likely to do so because there is no 4G coverage where they are. The next step is 5G, which may seem like old news at this point. But the fact is that it is a big upgrade from 4G because internet connection will be significantly faster and download will be at 130-240Mbps as opposed to 3Mbps with 3G and 20-30Mbps with 4G. As development continues, 3G will soon be a thing of the past.
Latest update 2 Nov 2020