Newcomers do not understand the games that standards developers are playing. It would seem that it uses GSM frequencies 850, 1900, 900, 1800 MHz, what more? A quick answer - read the following section Phone instructions. The incorrectness of the generally accepted interpretation will be shown. The problem is described by the following provisions:

1. The second generation of 2G cellular communications has spawned a slew of standards. The world knows three epicenters that set the rhythm: Europe, North America, Japan. Russia adopted the standards of the first two, altering it.
2. The pedigree tree of standards is constantly expanding.
3. International versions of the standards are intended to combine the disparate rules of individual countries. Direct injection is often not possible. Governments are changing the legal framework by fixing frequency plans.

The foregoing explains the origins of the misunderstanding of the problem by beginners. Returning clarity to the question, let's build a simplified hierarchy of standards, indicating the frequencies used along the way.

Genealogy of standards

The following information is intended to explain to the layman the structure of the existing, extinct standards. The technologies used in Russia will be described below, in the following sections. The corresponding representatives of the tree that adorned the Russian forest are marked in bold.

1G

1. AMPS family: AMPS, NAMPS, TACS, ETACS.
2. Others: NMT, C-450, DataTAC, Hicap, Mobitex.

2G: 1992

1. GSM / 3GPP family: GSM, HSCSD, CSD.
2. 3GPP2 family: cdmaOne.
3. AMPS family: D-AMPS.
4. Others: iDEN, PHS, PDC, CDPD.

2G +

1. 3GPP / GSM family: GPRS, EDGE.
2. 3GPP2 family: CDMA2000 1x including Advanced.
3. Others: WiDEN, DECT.

3G: 2003

1. 3GPP family: UMTS.
2. 3GPP2 family: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO R. 0

3G +

1. 3GPP family: LTE, HSPA, HSPA +.
2. 3GPP2 family: CDMA2000 1xEV-DO R. A, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO R. B, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO R. C
3. IEEE family: Mobile WiMAX, Flash OFDM.

4G: 2013

1. 3GPP family: LTE-A, LTE-S Pro.
2. IEEE family: WiMAX.

5G: 2020

1. 5G-NR.

Short description

Genealogy allows for the tracing of extinct species. For example, modern authors often use the abbreviation GSM, misleading the reader. The technology is entirely limited to the second generation of cellular communications, an extinct species. The former frequencies with additions continue to be used by descendants. On December 1, 2016, Telstra in Australia stopped using GSM, becoming the world's first operator to fully upgrade its equipment. 80% of the world's population continues to be content with technology (according to the GSM Association). The example of their Australian colleagues on January 1, 2017 was followed by the American AT&T. This was followed by the suspension of the service by the operator Optus, on April 2017, Singapore recognized the inconsistency of 2G with the growing needs of the population.

So, the term GSM is used in relation to aging equipment that has flooded the Russian Federation. Descendant protocols can be named as descendants of GSM. The frequencies are preserved by the next generations. Punctures, information transfer methods are changing. Frequency allocation aspects associated with equipment upgrades are discussed below. It is obligatory to provide information allowing to establish the relationship of GSM.

Phone manual

Helpful information regarding the question will be provided by the phone manual. The corresponding section lists the supported frequencies. Individual devices will allow you to customize the reception area. You should choose a phone model that catches generally accepted Russian channels:

1. 900 MHz - E-GSM. The ascending branch is 880..915 MHz, the descending branch is 925..960 MHz.
2. 1800 MHz - DCS. Ascending branch - 1710..1785 MHz, descending - 1805..1880 MHz.

LTE technology adds a 2600 MHz region, an 800 MHz channel is introduced.

History of RF communication: frequencies

In 1983, the development of a European standard for digital communications began. As a reminder, the first generation of 1G used analog transmission. Thus, engineers developed the standard in advance, anticipating the history of the development of technology. Digital communication was born of the Second World War, more precisely, the Green Hornet encrypted transmission system. The military understood perfectly well: the era of digital technology was coming. Civilian industry caught the wind.

900 MHz

The European organization CEPT has established a GSM committee (Groupe Special Mobile). The European Commission has proposed the use of the 900 MHz spectrum. The developers settled in Paris. Five years later (1987), 13 EU countries submitted to Copenhagen a memorandum on the need to create a unified cellular network. The community decided to request GSM assistance. The first technical specification came out in February. The politicians of the four countries (May 1987) supported the project with the Bonn Declaration. The next short period (38 weeks) is filled with a general bustle, governed by four appointed persons:

1. Armin Silberhorn (Germany).
2. Philippe Dupoulis (France).
3. Renzo Failli (Italy).
4. Stephen Temple (Great Britain).

In 1989 the GSM commission leaves the custody of CEPT, becoming part of ETSI. On July 1, 1991, the former Prime Minister of Finland, Harry Holkeri, made the first call to a subscriber (Kaarina Suonio) using the services of the Radio Line provider.

1800 MHz

In parallel with the introduction of 2G, work was going on, designed to use the 1800 MHz region. The first network covered the UK (1993). At the same time, the Australian operator Telecom moved in.

1900 MHz

The frequency 1900 MHz was introduced by the USA (1995). The GSM association was created, the global number of subscribers reached 10 million people. A year later, the figure increased tenfold. The use of 1900 MHz prevented the introduction of the European version of UMTS.

800 MHz

The 800 MHz band appeared in 2002, in parallel with the introduction of the multimedia messaging service.

Attention, question!

What frequencies have become the Russian standard? The confusion is added by the lack of knowledge by the authors of the Runet of the standards adopted by the official developers. The direct answer is discussed above (see the section Telephone instructions), we describe the work of the mentioned organizations (section UMTS).

Why are there so many frequencies

Examining the results of 2010, the GSM Association stated: 80% of the world's subscribers are covered by the standard. This means that four fifths of the networks cannot select a single frequency. In addition, there are 20% alien communication standards. Where does the root of evil come from? The countries of the second half of the twentieth century developed in isolation. The frequencies of 900 MHz of the USSR were occupied by military, civil air navigation.

GSM: 900 MHz

In parallel with the development by Europe of the first versions of GSM, NPO Astra, Research Institute Radio, Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense started research, which ended with field tests. The delivered verdict:

• Possible joint operation of navigation and the second generation of cellular communication.

1. NMT-450.

Please note: again 2 standards. Each uses its own frequency grid. The announced tender for the distribution of GSM-900 was won by NPO Astra, OJSC MGTS (now MTS), Russian companies, Canadian BCETI.

NMT-450MHz - first generation

So, Moscow used, starting in 1992, the 900 MHz band (see above), because other GSM frequencies were not yet born. In addition NMT (Nordic Mobile Phones) ... Initially, the Nordic countries developed two options:

1. NMT-450.
2. NMT-900 (1986).

Why did the Russian government choose the first answer? Probably decided to try two ranges. Please note that these standards describe analog communication (1G). Development countries began to cover the shop in December 2000. Iceland (Siminn) was the last to surrender on September 1, 2010. Experts point out an important advantage of the 450 MHz band: range. A significant plus, assessed by remote Iceland. The Russian government wanted to cover the country's area with a minimum of towers.

The NMT is loved by fishermen. The vacated grid was occupied by digital CDMA 450. In 2015, Scandinavian technologies have mastered 4G. The Russian Uralvestcom vacated the closet on September 1, 2006, Sibirtelecom - January 10, 2008. Subsidiary (Tele 2) Skylink scores a range in the Perm and Arkhangelsk regions. The license expires in 2021.

D-AMPS: UHF (400..890 MHz) - second generation

US 1G networks using the AMPS specification refused to accept GSM. Instead, two alternatives have been developed to organize second generation mobile networks:

1. IS-54 (March 1990, 824-849; 869-894 MHz).
2. IS-136. Differs in a large number of channels.

The standard is now dead, everywhere replaced by descendants of GSM / GPRS, CDMA2000.

Why does a Russian need D-AMPS

The Russian man in the street often uses second-hand equipment. D-AMPS equipment has reached Tele 2 and Beeline warehouses. On November 17, 2007, the latter closed the shop for the Central Region. The license of the Novosibirsk region expired on December 31, 2009. The last swallow flew away on October 1, 2012 (Kaliningrad region). Kyrgyzstan used the range until March 31, 2015.

CDMA2000 - 2G +

Some protocol variants use:

1. Uzbekistan - 450 MHz.
2. Ukraine - 450; 800 MHz.

In the period December 2002 - October 2016 specifications 1xRTT, EV-DO Rev. A (450 MHz) used Skylink. Now the infrastructure has been modernized, LTE has been introduced. On September 13, 2016, the world portals spread the news: Tele 2 stops using CDMA. The American MTS began the process of introducing LTE a year earlier.

GPRS - second to third generation

The development of the CELLPAC protocol (1991-1993) was a turning point in the development of cellular communications. 22 US patents received. LTE, UMTS are considered the descendants of technology. Packet data transmission is designed to speed up the exchange of information. The project is designed to improve GSM networks (frequencies are listed above). The user is obliged to the service to obtain technologies:

1. Internet access.
2. Obsolete "click to talk".
3. Messenger.

The overlap of two technologies (SMS, GPRS) speeds up the process many times over. The specification supports IP, PPP, X.25 protocols. Packages continue to arrive even during a call.

EDGE

The next step in the evolution of GSM is conceived by AT&T (USA). Compact-EDGE has taken the D-AMPS niche. The frequencies are listed above.

UMTS - full-fledged 3G

The first generation, which required updating the equipment of the base stations. The frequency grid has changed. The maximum line rate for a line that takes advantage of HSPA + is 42 Mbps. Really achievable speeds significantly exceed 9.6 kbps GSM. Starting in 2006, countries started to renew themselves. By using orthogonal frequency multiplexing, the 3GPP committee set out to achieve the 4G level. The Early Birds were released in 2002. Initially, the developer set the following frequencies:

1. .2025 MHz. An upstream connected branch.
2. .2200 MHz. Downstream connected branch.

Since the USA already used 1900 MHz, it chose the 1710..1755 segments; 2110..2155 MHz. Many countries followed America's example. The frequency 2100 MHz is too busy. Hence the numbers given at the beginning:

• 850/1900 MHz. Moreover, 2 channels are selected using one range. Either 850 or 1900.

Agree, it is incorrect to braid GSM, following a bad common example. The second generation used a half-duplex single channel, UMTS used two at once (5 MHz wide).

Frequency grid UMTS Russia

The first attempt to distribute the spectra took place from February 3 to March 3, 1992. The solution was adapted by the Geneva conference (1997). It was the S5.388 specification that fixed the ranges:

• 1885-2025 MHz.
• 2110-2200 MHz.

The decision required further clarification. The commission identified 32 ultra-channels, 11 constituted an unused reserve. Most of the others received qualifying names, since individual frequencies coincided. Russia rejected European practice, disdaining the United States, adopting 2 channels (bands) UMTS-FDD:

1. No. 8. 900 MHz - E-GSM. The ascending branch is 880..915 MHz, the descending branch is 925..960 MHz.
2. No. 3. 1800 MHz - DCS. Ascending branch - 1710..1785 MHz, descending - 1805..1880 MHz.

The characteristics of the cell phone should be selected according to the information provided. The Wikipedia table revealing the frequency plan of planet Earth is completely useless. Forgot to take into account the Russian specifics. Europe operates the nearby IMT channel # 1. In addition, there is a UMTS-TDD grid. The equipment of the two types of overhead networks is incompatible.

LTE - 3G +

Evolutionary continuation of the GSM-GPRS-UMTS connection. Can serve as a superstructure for CDMA2000 networks. Only a multi-frequency phone is capable of providing LTE technology. Experts directly indicate the place below the fourth generation. Contrary to the claims of marketers. Initially, the ITU-R organization recognized the technology as appropriate, later the position was revised.

LTE is a registered trademark of ETSI. The key idea was the use of signal processors and the introduction of innovative ways of modulating the carrier. IP-addressing of subscribers was found to be expedient. The interface has lost backward compatibility, the frequency spectrum has changed again. The first mesh (2004) was launched by the Japanese company NTT DoCoMo. The exhibition version of the technology overtook Moscow in hot May 2010.

Following the experience of UMTS, the developers implemented two air protocol options:

1. LTE-TDD. Time division of channels. The technology is widely supported by China, South Korea, Finland, Switzerland. Availability of a single frequency channel (1850..3800 MHz). Partially overlaps with WiMAX, upgrade is possible.
2. LTE-FDD. Frequency division of channels (separately downstream, upstream).

The frequency plans of the 2 technologies are different, 90% of the core design is the same. Samsung, Qualcomm produce phones that can handle both protocols. Occupied ranges:

1. North America. 700, 750, 800, 850, 1900, 1700/2100, 2300, 2500, 2600 MHz.
2. South America. 2500 MHz.
3. Europe. 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2600 MHz.
4. Asia. 800, 1800, 2600 MHz.
5. Australia, New Zealand. 1800, 2300 MHz.

Russia

Russian operators have chosen LTE-FDD technology, they use frequencies:

1. 800 MHz.
2. 1800 MHz.
3. 2600 MHz.

LTE-A - 4G

The frequencies remained the same (see LTE). Timeline of launches:

1. On October 9, 2012, Yota acquired 11 base stations.
2. Megafon on February 25, 2014 covered the Garden Ring of the capital.
3. Beeline has been operating on LTE 800, 2600 MHz since August 5, 2014.

The phased development of cellular communications in the world is called Generations - there are 4 generations of cellular communications. At the moment, there are 4 generations in the world: 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G.

Each generation includes the communication standards used by the Buyer. In Russia, all communication generations were put into commercial operation, and the most widespread communication standards were the second generation GSM (JI-ES-EM), and the third generation UMTS (U-EM-TE-ES). Surely you have already guessed that the popularization is caused by the numerous advantages of the mentioned standards.

1. Cellular standards.

The cellular communication standard is a set of rules according to which the operator offers communication services to the Buyer. Communication standard - the rules by which the network operates. Rules that allow you to separate one call from another and communicate comfortably. In the days when telephone communication was just in its infancy, the telephone operator was the standard of communication, switching plugs at the request of the client, you probably remember this from old films. Modern communication standards, along with the ability to make calls, allow you to send text and multimedia messages and even use the worldwide network!

1st generation is 1G(1 JI) world's first bond. In networks of this generation, only calls were possible. There were no such services as SMS, Internet, and there were no SIM cards either. . In the first generation standards, for the communication of a telephone with a base station, it is used analog signal transmission system. As a result, such a system has poor protection against interference and high energy consumption, so communications are no longer used, due to their critical shortcomings. After all, the most important thing is the quality of the connection, right?

Generation 2G refers to the GSM standard (JI-ES-EM), - it makes it possible to use SIM cards, send messages and use the Internet.

In the second generation standards, for communication between the phone and the base station, it is used digital signal transmission system. Compared to analog systems (1G), they provide subscribers with a wider range of services, are protected from noise and interference, and are much better protected from eavesdropping. -EM), - from the English. Global System for Mobile Communication - "Global System for Mobile Communication".

Due to the different terrain and density of its population, it became necessary to introduce several GSM frequency bands. At the moment, four GSM frequency bands are used in the world: GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900.

Gsm900/1800 are used in Russia, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

Gsm850/1900 are used in the Americas.

Changing the radio frequency affects the coverage area of ​​the cell and the maximum number of subscribers in it. As the frequency increases, the cell size decreases, but the signal penetrating ability increases, and this improves the signal reception level (for example, in concrete-metal structures), and the number of communication channels also increases. As a result, an increase in frequency leads to the service of a larger number of subscribers on a smaller coverage area, therefore high-frequency standards 1800 and 1900 are used in cities, and low-frequency standards (900 and 850), in order to save money, in rural areas, since they have a much larger coverage area. ...

And all the telephones that we sell in stores are divided into two-band (900/1800), three-band (900/1800/1900) and four-band (850/900/1800/1900).

If a client voices the need to travel to the countries of South and North America, it is important to make sure that the telephone you sell him supports the frequencies 850/1900.

In the GSM standard, to protect against unauthorized connections, a special subscriber authentication module is used - a Sim-card. (SIM card).

SIM (English Subscriber Identification Module) is an individual subscriber identification module. This card, in the built-in microcircuit of which special information about a specific subscriber is stored, is issued to him when the phone is connected and can be used with any model of a mobile device of the GSM standard.

Thus, the subscriber gets the opportunity to painlessly change devices, without rearranging the card from one to another. To prevent an outsider from using the SIM-card, it contains a special identification number (PIN-code (PIN-code)), which is requested every time the device is turned on. The PIN code request can be disabled via the device menu. If you enter the PIN code incorrectly three times in a row, the SIM card will be temporarily blocked. Unlocking is carried out with an additional unblocking code (PUK). Entering the PUK code incorrectly 10 times in a row leads to the final blocking of the card. You can restore such a card only by contacting the operator's office in person. Sim - card also allows storing subscriber numbers (up to 250 entries) in memory, as well as sms - messages (up to 30 items).

The speed of Internet access in the GSM standard depends on the services of GPRS (GIPIERES) or EDGE (EJ), and the difference between them is only in speed.

GPRS (JIPIERES) - packet data transmission, will allow the Buyer to exchange data with other devices in the GSM network and with the Internet. In this case, the Buyer, when using the service, pays only for the received / transmitted information. Maximum theoretical speed V = 171.2 kbps.

F The actual data transfer rate is significantly lower than the theoretical one. In conditions of congestion of GSM networks with voice traffic, the average speed that a GPRS subscriber receives, as a rule, does not exceed 20-30 kbps.

EDGE (EJ) - is an "improved" version of GPRS with similar characteristics. The high speed of EDGE is achieved by the introduction of an improved system for processing transmitted data. The buyer, when using the service, pays only for the information received / transmitted. Maximum theoretical speed V = 384 kbps.

F The actual data transfer rate using this technology depends on the network congestion and its quality at the point of the subscriber's location, averaging 100–130 Kbps.

Third generation 3G(3 JI) is represented in Russia by two communication standards -UMTS(U-EM-TE-ES) andIMT- MC450 (AI-EM-TI-EM-SI 450), which allow operators to provide a wide range of services.

Of course, third-generation communication standards have a lot of advantages over second-generation standards:

high sound quality and low background noise;

increased system capacity (number of subscribers) is 3-5 times more than in GSM;

full protection against unauthorized connection is provided;

reducing the impact on the human body, which means that the phone can be carried in your pocket and around your neck and put under your pillow before going to bed.

Third-generation communication standards provide not only the provision of traditional mobile communication services, but also fundamentally new services based on high-speed data transmission:

video telephony or video call - allows you to see the interlocutor during a conversation;

mobile TV - allows you to watch TV programs on the screen of your mobile phone;

video surveillance of remote objects from the display of a cell phone;

high speed wireless Internet access.

For Buyers standardsUMTSandIMT- MC450 is great connectivity and high-speed Internet access.

April 20, 2007 The Ministry of InformSvyaz of Russia officially handed over licenses for the development of third generation networks - UMTS to the representatives of the Big Three - Beeline, MTS, Megafon. Every day, the number of Russian cities in which 3G UMTS networks are deployed is growing. The UMTS standard operates at a frequency of 2100 MHz, which significantly increases the quality of communication.

The main data transfer protocol used in 3G networks:

HSDPA (HSDPA) - high-speed packet data transmission from a base station to a mobile phone, the maximum data transfer rate is 14.4 Mbps.

Feature: the radius of the cell, for the full provision of services, is 1-1.5 km.

The IMT-MC-450 network was launched on October 1, 2000 in South Korea. Since June 2003, the IMT-MC-450 standard has been used in Russia by one operator - SkyLink. The IMT-MC 450 standard operates at 450 MHz, which significantly increases the communication range.

Data transmission technologies used in the IMT-MC450 standard:

EV-DO (Evolution Data Only) - up to 3.1 Mbps.

Advantages of the standard:

even higher sound quality and low background noise;

network capacity is higher than in the UMTS standard, this makes it possible to call and congratulate everyone on the New Year;

reducing the effect on the human body, the radiated power is about 10mW (0.1W);

D To use cellular communicationIMT- MC 450 (Skylink), the client needs to buy a cell phone that supports this standard and a RUIM (Removable User Identity Module) card, which is outwardly indistinguishable from a SIM card.

The specifics above will cause differences in carriers, services and devices. The IMT-MC-450 standard telephones in Russia are currently represented by companies that are less familiar to subscribers of the second generation network - these are Huundai-Curitel, Synertek, Pantech-Curitel, Ubiquam, Huawei, AnyData and others.

UMTS standard as opposed toIMT- MC450 gives Buyers the ability to make video calls and watch TV programs. Due to the camera located on the front panel, UMTS phones support video calls, which allow you not only to hear, but also to see your interlocutor. Back in 2007, the first video call was made in the third generation cellular network in Russia. At the moment, the video call service is already available in most regions where 3G UMTS networks are deployed. And thanks to the high data transfer rate via the HSDPA protocol, UMTS phones can also be used as a pocket TV, which is always with you.

P watching TV and video (for example, fromYoutube) is possible both through specialized programs that we can install to the Buyer, and through the program–browser built into most phones.

4th generation (4G) - this is a high speed of Internet access, more than in 3G, but there is no way to make calls. The fourth generation standards, as well as the second and third, are digital standards. From a technical point of view, the main difference between fourth-generation networks from the previous, third, is that 4G technology is completely based on packet data transmission protocols, while 3G combines the transmission of voice traffic and "packets". The fourth generation of mobile communications is characterized by high data rates and improved voice quality. The fourth generation includes technologies that allow data transmission at speeds exceeding 100 Mbps, which is comparable to the speed attainable by fiber-optic technologies.

V Need to know, networks 4Gonly provide Internet access. Call 4Git is impossible (you can call only through Internet services -Skype, Mail. ru Agentetc.). Also noSIM-cards in 4Gno. To use 4G

it is enough to buy a special device - 4Gmodem and connect it to your computer.

One of the data transmission standards implemented in Russia by 4G operators is WIMAX.

In 2008, Skartel launched a Mobile WiMAX network (Mobile WiMax) under the Yota brand in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Yota is the first 4G network in Russia. The WiMAX standard operates at a frequency of 2500-2700 MHz, which significantly increases the quality of communication.

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a telecommunications technology designed to provide universal long-range wireless communications for a wide range of devices, from workstations and laptop computers to mobile phones.

Mobile WiMAX is the next generation of wireless broadband (4G) communications. In the Mobile WiMAX network, users can surf the Internet with the comfort of cellular communication and the quality of a dedicated line. Like wired broadband, which is now the most common type of connection, Mobile WiMAX gives the user high speed Internet access - up to 10 Mbps, and the maximum theoretical speed up to 100 Mbps! This allows you to quickly download large files (for example, movies), watch videos or TV shows, participate in online games in a mobile mode.

The following types of user devices are already on the market: USB modems, express cards and a multi-user mobile WiMAX Wi-Fi (WiMax Wi-Fi) center, which, in addition to WiMAX, serves as a Wi-Fi access point, and also provides the ability to connect devices to the Internet of two ordinary telephone or fax machines.

Advantages:

the 4G standard is based on the Internet Protocol (IP), which will provide simple and very fast access to the Internet;

high capacity, network bandwidth;

large range of WiMAX base station up to 10 km;

high data transfer rates allowing to receive not only high-quality sound, but also video.

In Russia, access to the WiMax network is provided by two companies Yota and Comstar.

In modern smartphones, at the top of the screen, you can always find a line with a signal strength icon, a battery level icon, etc. Also, letters G, E, 3G, H, 3G +, H +, 4G, sometimes LTE may appear in the line. What do they mean? The answer is really simple - the icon shows which transmission technology is currently being used. In other words, it is a technology that is used to connect your smartphone to the Internet.

Now let's take a closer look at each icon. Attention - in the upper right left or right corner (depending on the smartphone model).

• G from English. GPRS - General Packet Radio Service, public packet radio (2G). GPRS allows the user of a cellular network to exchange data with other devices in the GSM network and with external networks, including the Internet. The maximum speed is 171.2 Kbps, but in practice it is usually lower.

• E from eng. EDGE. Digital wireless technology for mobile communications, operating over 2G and 2.5G networks. The maximum speed has already reached 474 Kbps.

• 3G from English third generation is the third generation. Third generation mobile communication technology, which, among other things, provides high-speed Internet access. UMTS technology with HSPA add-on is used. The maximum speed of 3G networks reaches 3.6 Mbps.

• H, 3G +, H +. HSPA (High Speed ​​Packet Access) technology allows you to transfer data over UMTS networks at very high speeds up to several tens of Mbps! However, it should be borne in mind that not all devices support this speed.

• 4G (LTE, LTE-A). As you might have guessed, the technology got its name from the phrase fourth generation - the fourth generation. These are promising technologies that allow data transmission at speeds exceeding 100 Mbit / s for mobile subscribers and 1 Gbit / s for stationary ones.

Please note that the numbers indicated in the article are conditional. Much depends on the operator, on the user's location, on the user's device, etc. This means that in real life, the speed can be seriously different. At the same time, in many cities, the speed of the Internet connection on smartphones is so high that it allows you to watch HD-format videos directly from your device.

Everyone has heard more than once about second, third and fourth generation mobile networks. Some may have already read about the networks of the future - the fifth generation. But the questions - what does G, E, 3G, H, 3G +, 4G or LTE mean on a smartphone screen and what among this faster still worries many people. We will answer them.

These icons indicate the type of connection of your smartphone, tablet or modem to the mobile network.

1. G(GPRS - General Packet Radio Services): The slowest and outdated packet data connection option. The first mobile Internet standard, implemented by means of a superstructure over GSM (after CSD connection up to 9.6 kbps). The maximum speed of the GPRS channel is 171.2 kbps. At the same time, the real one, as a rule, is an order of magnitude lower and the Internet is not always efficient here in principle.

2. E(EDGE or EGPRS - Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution): faster add-on over 2G and 2.5G. Digital data transmission technology. EDGE speed is about 3 times higher than GPRS: up to 474.6 kbps. However, it also belongs to the second generation of wireless communication and is already obsolete. The real speed of EDGE is usually kept in the region of 150-200 kbps and directly depends on the location of the subscriber - that is, the workload of the base station in a particular area.

3. 3 G(Third Generation - third generation). Here, over the network, not only data transmission, but also "voice" is possible. The quality of voice transmission in 3G networks (if both interlocutors are within their range of action) can be an order of magnitude higher than in 2G (GSM). Internet speed in 3G is also much higher, and its quality, as a rule, is already quite sufficient for comfortable work on mobile devices and even stationary computers via USB modems. In this case, your current position can affect the data transfer rate, incl. whether you are in one place or moving in transport:

• Stay motionless: typically up to 2 Mbps
• Move at speeds up to 3 km / h: up to 384 kbps
• You are moving at speeds up to 120 km / h: up to 144 kbps.

4. 3,5 G, 3G +,H,H +(HSPDA - High-Speed ​​Downlink Packet Access): The next high-speed packet data add-on is already over 3G. In this case, the data transfer rate is very close to 4G and in H mode it is up to 42 Mbit / s. In real life, the mobile Internet in this mode average works with mobile operators at speeds of 3-12 Mbit / s (sometimes higher). For those who are not versed: this is very fast and quite enough to watch online videos in not very high quality (resolution) or download heavy files with a stable connection.

Also, 3G has a video call function:

5. 4G, LTE(Long-Term Evolution is a long-term development, the fourth generation of mobile Internet). This technology is used only for data transmission (not for "voice"). The maximum download speed here is up to 326 Mbps, upload - 172.8 Mbps. The real values ​​are again an order of magnitude lower than the declared ones, but they still amount to tens of megabits per second (in practice, they are often comparable to the H mode; in conditions of Moscow congestion, usually 10-50 Mbps). At the same time, faster PING and the technology itself make 4G the most preferred standard for mobile Internet in modems. Smartphones and tablets in 4G (LTE) networks keep the battery charge longer than in 3G.

6. LTE-A(LTE Advanced - LTE upgrade). The peak data transfer rate here is up to 1 Gbps. In reality, the Internet is capable of operating at speeds up to 300 Mbps (5 times faster than conventional LTE).

7. VoLTE(Voice over LTE - voice over LTE as an additional development of technology): technology for the transmission of voice calls over LTE networks based on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The connection speed is up to 5 times faster than 2G / 3G, and the quality of the conversation and voice transmission is even higher and cleaner.

8. 5 G(the fifth generation of cellular communications based on IMT-2020). The standard of the future is still under development and testing. The data transfer rate in the commercial version of the networks is promised to be up to 30 times higher than LTE: the maximum data transfer can be up to 10 Gbps.

Of course, you can use any of the above technologies if it is supported by your equipment. Also, its work depends on the capabilities of the mobile operator itself at a specific point of location of the subscriber and his tariff plan.

Their main requests are related to quality of service, support, pricing and other factors. When you choose a network operator, you also have to choose between a GSM or WCDMA network.

You have probably come across these terms earlier when choosing a new mobile phone, connecting to providers for the first time, or changing them. But do you know what they mean and what is the difference between them? To make the right choice, you should consider in more detail how GSM differs from WCDMA and which one is better.

What is GSM?

GSM acts as the Global System for Mobile Communications and is now considered the global communications standard, especially in Asia and Europe, with availability in more than 210 countries around the world. It operates on four different frequency bands: 900 MHz and 1800 MHz in Europe and Asia, and 850 MHz and 1900 MHz in the Americas. The GSM Association is an international organization founded in 1987 that is dedicated to the development and control of the expansion of the use of this wireless standard.

GSM uses a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) variant that divides the frequency bands into multiple channels. In this technology, voice is converted into digital data, which is transmitted over a channel and a time slot. At the other end, the receiver only listens for the designated timeslot, and the call combines both signals. Obviously, this happens in a very short time, and the recipient does not notice the "break" or time division.

What is WCDMA?

CDMA, or Code Division Multiple Access, became a standard developed and patented by Qualcomm and subsequently used as the basis for the CDMA2000 and WCDMA standards for 3G. However, due to its proprietary nature, WCDMA technology has not received the same global adoption as GSM. It is currently used by less than 18% of networks worldwide, mainly in the United States, but also in South Korea and Russia. How does GSM differ from WCDMA from a technical point of view?

In WCDMA networks, digital calls overlap each other, assigning unique codes to differentiate them. Each call signal is encoded with a different key, and then they are transmitted simultaneously. Each receiver has a unique key that can split the combined signal into its individual calls.

Both standards are multi-access, which means that multiple calls can go through the same tower. But as you can see, the main difference between the two has to do with how the data is converted into radio waves that your phone broadcasts and receives.

The main reason telcos were having trouble rolling out the new format quickly is because of the difference in the frequency bands they use. Because of this, phones released with only GSM support could not communicate with WCDMA networks, and vice versa. To get around this, most device manufacturers had to use multiple frequency bands for 2G and 3G networks. This ensured that mobile phones could be used on virtually any network and anywhere in the world.

WCDMA vs GSM: What's the Difference?

Before the advent of 4G LTE technology, the obvious difference between GSM and WCDMA devices was with the SIM card. GSM phones came with a SIM card slot, but CDMA devices did not.

In other words, WCDMA is phone based with a subscriber number associated with a specific 3G device. If you want to switch to another phone, you will need to contact the provider, deactivate the old device and activate the new one. On the other hand, in GSM devices, the number is associated with the SIM card, so when switching to another device, all you have to do is place the SIM card in the new phone.

Network coverage

The network coverage does not depend on whether it is GSM or WCDMA. What is the difference in this case? Rather, this characteristic depends on the infrastructure that the operator has. GSM networks are much more popular around the world, with the exception of the United States, where Verizon Wireless, a (W) CDMA network, boasts the largest number of subscribers in the country.

International roaming

When connecting domestically, it doesn't matter which network you are using as long as the coverage is sufficient. So, in Russia, you can freely use WCDMA or GSM. What is the difference outside the country?

When it comes to international roaming, GSM has many advantages: there are many more of these networks around the world, as well as many roaming rates between these providers. With a GSM phone, you also have the advantage that you can purchase a local SIM card wherever you are (assuming you are using an unlocked device). In turn, you may not be able to get full access to the WCDMA data connection, depending on the device and network compatibility.

4G, WCDMA or GSM: what's the difference in the near future?

With the advent of 4G and the adoption of LTE and LTE-Advanced as a standard by most network operators around the world, the debate over GSM and WCDMA takes less time. Today you may notice that the latest smartphones designed for WCDMA networks also come with SIM card slots to take advantage of the 4G LTE capabilities of the network.

The difference between GSM and WCDMA devices means that they cannot be interchangeable even now and will never be cross-compatible, but this will not make any difference in the near future. This is due to the fact that modern developers continue to move towards a full transition to 4G LTE. This technology has clear advantages.

So, in international roaming, the main factor is the quality of the voice call and the satisfaction of user needs for 3G data. These parameters can be equally good on GSM or WCDMA networks. What is the difference? The 3G modems built into these devices can be highly functional. But regarding factors such as availability, coverage and price of services, 4G offers the best deal.