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Management Information Systems, 13TH ED.
MANAGING THE DIGITAL FIRM
Kenneth C. Laudon ● Jane P. Laudon
continued
Learning Track 3: Cellular System Generations
Cellular Generations
Wireless phone systems throughout the world are gradually moving toward much higher speeds
and capacities. is transition involves over $150 billion in worldwide investment by 2016 in what
are called 4G networks (fourth-generation cellular networks).
e first generation (1G) of cellular networks originating in the early 1980s were analog based.
ey supported voice communication and could only be used for data transfer with a proper
ird-generation (3G) cellular networks are based on packet-switched technology that achieves
greater eciencies and higher transmission speeds. 3G networks have speeds ranging from 144
Kbps for mobile users in, say, a car, to over 2 Mbps for stationary users. is is sucient transmis-
sion capacity for video, graphics, and other rich media, in addition to voice, making 3G networks
suitable for wireless broadband Internet access and always-on data transmission. If 3G networks
Chapter 7: Telecommunications, the Internet, and Wireless Technology
Chapter 7 Learning Track 3 2
service called General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) transports data over GSM wireless networks
and improves wireless Internet access. 2.5G also improves data transmission rates for CDMA.
Table 7-2 summarizes these cellular generations.
TABLE 7-2 Wireless Cellular Generations
Generation Capacity Description
1G Low Analog cellular networks for voice com-
munication
2.5G 50–144 Kbps Interim step toward 3G in the United
States
3G 144 Kbps—2+ Mbps fixed High-speed, mobile, supports video and
