Mobile Telecommunication Networks
Introduction

Besides fixed wired networks, the mobile networks provide wireless connection and data transmissions. In addition to radio parts, the mobile network also includes the whole core network and fixed infrastructure to enable delivery of all kinds of services. With every new introduced generation, their capabilities are still growing and thus meet increasing requirements. Today, mobile networks utilizing digital concepts are the only alternative for the near and distant future.

GSM is a digital mobile system representing the second generation of mobile systems and it can be characterized as a digital cellular mobile radio telephone system.

The upcoming third generation of mobile systems is known as UMTS. These digital systems operate in the 2 GHz bands and integrate different wireless access technologies currently in a massive infrastructure capable to offer a wide range of multimedia services with guaranteed quality.

The fourth generation is denoted as LTE-A. It focuses on meeting further increase in demands of users to transmission rates and low delay for various set of services.

Generation of mobile systems
Generation | Name/Abbreviation | Characteristics
1st generation (1980 to 1995) | NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone); FIN, S, N, DK AMPS (Advanced Mobile Telephone System); USA TACS (Total Access Communication System); UK, IRL RADIOCOM 2000; FR | Analogue systems National systems VOICE
2nd generation (since 1992) | GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) DAMPS (Digital AMPS), resp. IS136; USA PCS 1900 (Personal Communication System); USA PDC (Personal Digital Communication) GPRS (General Packet Radio Service); denoted as 2.5 generation EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution); denoted as 2.75 generation | Digital systems VOICE + DATA
3rd generation (since 2004) | CDMA 2000 (1×EV-DO, 1×EV-DV) UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), HSPA+; denoted as 3.5 generation LTE (Long Term Evolution); denoted as 3.9 generation | MULTIMEDIA
4th generation (not available) | LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced) | MULTIMEDIA