1.4 - Cellular Standards

Question 1

2G networks

Answer 1

• GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications
• CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access
• Poor data support
  – Originally used circuit-switching
  – Minor upgrades for some packet-switching

Question 2

GSM

Answer 2

• Global System for Mobile Communications
  – Mobile networking standard
• 90% of the market
  – Originally an EU standard
  – Worldwide coverage
• Used by AT&T and T-Mobile in the United States
  – Move your SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) from
  phone to phone
• Original GSM standard used multiplexing
  – Everyone gets a little slice of time

Question 3

CDMA

Answer 3

• Code Division Multiple Access
  – Everyone communicates at the same time
  – Each call uses a different code
  – The codes are used to filter each call on the receiving side
• Used by Verizon and Sprint
  – Handsets are controlled by the network provider
  – Not much adoption elsewhere

Question 4

3G technology

Answer 4

• 3rd Generation
  – Introduced in 1998
• Upgraded data connectivity over 2G
  – Incremental 3G updates improved speeds
  – Usually several megabits per second
• Bandwidth improvement allowed new functionality
  – GPS
  – Mobile television
  – Video on demand
  – Video conferencing

Question 5

4G and LTE

Answer 5

• Long Term Evolution (LTE)
  – A “4G” technology
  – Converged standard (GSM and CDMA providers)
  – Based on GSM and EDGE
  (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution)
  – Standard supports download rates of 150 Mbit/s
• LTE Advanced (LTE-A)
  – Standard supports download rates of 300 Mbit/s

Question 6

LTE Advanced (LTE-A)

Answer 6

• Standard supports download rates of 300 Mbit/s

Question 7

5G

Answer 7

• Fifth generation cellular networking
  – Launched worldwide in 2020
• Significant performance improvements
  – At higher frequencies
  – Eventually 10 gigabits per second
  – Slower speeds from 100-900 Mbit/s
• Significant IoT impact
  – Bandwidth becomes less of a constraint
  – Larger data transfers
  – Faster monitoring and notification
  – Additional cloud processing

Question 8

PRL (Preferred Roaming List) updates

Answer 8

• CDMA networks (i.e., Verizon, Sprint)
• Allows your phone to connect to the right tower
  – Can be updated over the air (OTA)

Question 9

Hotspot

Answer 9

• Turn your phone into a WiFi hotspot
  – Your own personal wireless router
  – Extend the cellular data network to all of your devices
• Dependent on phone type and provider
  – May require additional charges and data costs