What is 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G ?
3G, 4G has faster data speed compared to 2G. 5G has the most fastest speed and is also in the market. For voice calls only, 2G is enough but in case you prefer using data on mobile, then you can use 4G. 3G can also handle data but speed is slow as compared to 4G.
1G
1G mobile technology was introduced in the 1980s and it refers to the 1st generation of wireless mobile telecommunications. The radio signals used by 1G networks are analog. The 1st commercial 1G technology was launched in 1979 by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) in Japan.
2G
2G has voice, SMS text messages and slow data service. 2G was commercially launched on the GSM standard by Radiolinja (now part of Elisa Oyj) in 1991 in Finland.
3G
3G is the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunication technology came in early 2000. It can provide voice, video call and fast data. In mid-2001, the first commercial 3G networks were introduced.
4G
4G is the fast commercial network which can provide data speed up to 100 Mbps. The first-release Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard was commercially deployed in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden in 2009.
5G
5G provides ultra-high-speed internet. 5G has reached the developed world in 2019 but will become widely available in coming days to more areas. 5G speeds will range from ~50 Mbit/s to over a gigabit/s and the fastest 5G is known as mmWave.
| S.No. | Technology | Launch | Feaures | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1G | 1980s | Voice only | – |
| 2. | 2G | 1990s | Voice, SMS, MMS and slow data | 100 kbps to 300 kbps |
| 3. | 3G | 2000s | Voice, Video call, MMS, faster data | 2 Mbps to 21 Mbps |
| 4. | 4G | 2010s | All fast data and more multimedia services | 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps |
| 5. | 5G | 2020s | Fastest data, low latency services | 10 Gbps |
Name of technologies for 2G, 3G, and 4G are as follows:
2G – GSM or CDMA
3G – WCDMA or EVDO
4G – LTE
5G – NR