3G or Not 3G: That is the Question

At the recent Wireless Agenda 2000 Conference in Austin, TX, 3G—the next or third generation of wireless communication devices—was the big deal. 3G devices essentially connect to the Internet at desktop speeds, and sometimes even faster. With the exception of Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), considered to be the standard for wireless Web browsing, 3G was the most-talked about technology on the showroom floor. Everyone was asking, "When are we going to get it?", "How are we going to get it?", and "What will it do, exactly?" And judging from all appearances, most think that 3G may just be the savior of the wireless industry.

This, of course, begs the question: does the wireless industry need saving? Well, with the growing strain on available bandwidth and the increasing popularity and availability of multi-functional cell phones and handheld devices, the wireless industry does seem to be headed toward a breaking point.

In 1997, the ITU addressed these goals more specifically, saying they wanted high-data rate telecommunications with universal coverage, handsets capable of roaming seamlessly across networks, and a minimal amount of radio interference. IMT-2000 requires data speeds of 144-Kbps while driving, 384-Kbps for outside stationary use or while walking, and 2-Mbps when indoors.

One issue that will be answered by 3G, but needs to be addressed before 3G can be implemented, is spectrum. Just recently, in a May 2000 conference in Istanbul, the ITU and other interested parties agreed upon a spectrum requirement for 3G. In addition to the 1885- to 2025-MHz and 2110- to 2200-MHz bandwidths made available for this technology in 1992, it has added the 806- to 960-MHz, 1710- to 1885-MHz, and 2500- to 2690-MHz bandwidths for the terrestrial component of IMT-2000. The conference also identified the use of additional frequency bands so satellite systems in these bands can provide 3G services as well.

Qualcomm's stake is tied to CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology, which it pioneered when other companies were not willing to put forth the time, effort, and money to test an unknown technology. Representatives from Qualcomm and other organizations, such as the GSM Association, the Universal Wireless Communications Consortium (UWCC), the North American CDMA Development Group, and the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) are working together with the ITU to create the specifications for 3G. Obviously, several interested parties with competing technologies are involved in creating these new standards.

As of now, neither the standards that will be built upon nor the workings of the competitive climate have been determined. In all likelihood, 3G will not roll out universally until 2005, so many developments and decisions are yet to be made. Additionally, some say that 4G is just behind 3G in development—putting more than a little pressure on the 3G developers.

Figure 1: The evolution of 3G

The road to 3G has been paved by the voice and data infrastructure of the first and second generation networks. First generation (1G) networks included analog cellular systems. These were primarily created for voice transmission, but could also handle minimal data exchange and roaming in the U.S.

Second generation (2G) is the current stage for most of the world. It includes digital cellular systems such as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), cdmaOne (developed by Qualcomm), and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), allowing enhanced voice transmission, European and international roaming, and some data transmission.

In all likelihood, these 2G systems will be the foundation for 3G. GSM currently allows for 9.6- or 14.4-Kbps of data transmission. GSM is anticipated to evolve into High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD), which will allow for transmission to reach 28.8- to 56-Kbps, and then to General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a 2.5G (the intermediate step between 2G and 3G) technology, allowing 56- to 160-Kbps of packet data speeds. For both of these iterations, adjustments will have to be made to the networks, but not drastic ones, and they will not require carriers to apply for new spectrums.

The next logical step is generally considered a movement to 3G. With Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), data rates will reach a best-case scenario of up to 500-Kbps using the same GPRS infrastructure. The 3G version of GSM is Wideband CDMA, or W-CDMA. The indoor data rates for W-CDMA are expected to be around 2-Mbps. Interestingly, W-CDMA is already supported in Europe, primarily because it builds on their current GSM technology. In addition, Japan's largest wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo also endorses W-CDMA technology. Japan will probably be the first place 3G is implemented and other countries will be monitoring its experience as an indication of 3G's potential success.

CDMA, on the other hand, currently operates at 14.4-Kbps, and is based on the IS-95A standard. This standard has been refined and renamed IS-95B. With this improved standard, CDMA allows for packet data rates as high as 64-Kbps. CDMA will eventually evolve to the standard supported by North America—cdma2000. It will also roll out in two phases—1XRTT and 3XRTT. 1X and 3X refer to the number of 1.25-MHz-wide radio carrier channels it uses; RTT stands for radio-transmission technology.

The main technological roadblock holding back the production of lightning-fast wireless personal devices that provide instant location specific information is the fact that different regions of the world would like 3G to aspire to different types of networks.

Developers are aiming to provide several enhanced services through 3G technology, including:

• Database access
• Audio, video, and games on demand
• Wireless remote LAN access
• Stock trading
• Financial news
• Wireless banking
• Email
• Web browsing
• Fax
• Video telephone
• Videoconferencing
• Remote learning, etc.

While several of these services are already available on current networks, the speed and ease with which this information can be accessed leaves much to be desired. 3G aims to remedy that. It also aims to eliminate the hassles associated with traveling from one network to another by standardizing the operating frequencies around the globe. Some devices will even be equipped with an "always on" option, so users will no longer have to worry about using up minutes, getting dropped, or tying up a network channel.

One of the most important benefits of 3G is spectrum salvation. A 3G network, such as W-CDMA, will use spectrum more efficiently by utilizing the full spread of the allocated bandwidth. Because each user doesn't require one specific channel to transmit data, the information can be broken down into packets, scooted along the channel, and then put back together at the receiving end. Hence, the problem of constantly trying to dodge other channels or frequencies to prevent interference will be remedied. With this method, interference is almost nonexistent.

While these basic pros and cons, and facts and figures about 3G remain, one must remember several other issues associated with this next generation of wireless networks must still be resolved. After standards are chosen, they will need to be implemented, and how this is done will affect user networks and the availability of services.

But one day, hopefully in the not-so-distant future, 3G will become a reality. We will live in a wild, wild 3G wireless world with information at our fingertips on any continent at any time, miles away from the nearest DSL connection. And then we will begin to yearn for the miracles promised by 4G.