Most of you have heard this words but aren't clear what these acronyms stand for ,so i decided to make a dedicated post regarding the same.
2G aka GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications ):
- GSM supports voice calls and data transfer (SMS) speed up to 9.6kbit/s.
- Today GSM networks have spread over 218 countries worldwide and it allows the international roaming capability.
2.5G aka GPRS(General Packet Radio Service) :
- GPRS is a packet-based wireless communication service.
- It is a 2G technology network that support a download speed of up to 114Kbps.
- Limitation of GPRS is that GPRS data cannot be sent while a voice call is in progress.
- GPRS and EDGE are both 2G technology but EDGE is significantly faster with a download speed of up to 384Kbps.
- EDGE is sometimes called a 2.5G network as it also has some characteristics of a 3G network but it doesn't satisfy the specification.
- EDGE is multiple 2G connections combined.
- In EDGE, you might not hit desired 384Kbps consistently which depends on other users.
- This is shown by a E symbol next to the signal bar.
- Introduction of 3G network made video calling and seamless streaming of video possible, with download speed of up to 3.1Mbps.
- Here we will get a desired pipelined providing the 3G speed consistently.
- 3G networks do not use the same radio frequencies as 2G so mobile operators must build entirely new networks and license entirely new frequencies.
- This is shown by a 3G symbol next to the signal bar.
3.5 G aka HSDPA(High-Speed Down-link Packet Access):
- It is based on the 3G network and an enhancement to 3G.
- Thus has a faster speed, download speed can be up to 14Mbps.
- This is shown by a H symbol next to the signal bar.
4G aka HSPA+(Evolved High-Speed Packet Access):
- HSPA+ is an evolution HSPA(HSDPA&HSUPA).
- It is a 4G technology that allows download at a rate of up to 168Mbps.
4G LTE(Long Term Evolution):
- LTE is a 4G communication standard that supports HD video streaming, download speed as high as 299.6Mbps.
Summary :
GPRS(114Kbps) < EGDE(368Kbps) < 3G(3.1Mbps) < HSDPA(14Mbps) < HSPA+(168Mbps) < 4G/LTE(299.6Mbps)
Comment below which version are you currently using ?
