What's 3G all about?

Amit Tripathi

3G is short for third-generation mobile telephony services. The technology is based on an International Telecommunication Union standard called IMT-2000.

3G phones work in higher bandwidths of 15-20 MHz, while currently available mobile phones are loosely regarded as 2G or 2.5G, and use 30-200 KHz bandwidth.

3G networks offer download speeds of 14.4 Mbits/second and uploads of 5.8 Mbits/second. Bandwidth is a measure of the width of a range of frequencies used while transferring data from one point to another, and is measured in hertz.

Since the bandwidth for 3G is higher, it facilitates faster, better and simultaneous delivery of audio and non-audio data.

While audio data is normally associated with telephone call, non-audio data comprise e-mail exchanges, instant messaging, and downloading information, all riding on the Internet.

A rollout of 3G services will also mean that telecom carriers will be able to provide video broadcast and other value-added services such as telemedicine, mobile banking, stock transactions, e-learning etc, through wireless communications at a faster pace and with high quality.

Experts also suggest that various government services (e-governance) to the masses would be facilitated through the medium of mobile phone powered by a higher bandwidth of 3G.

Since acquiring 3G spectrum is expensive (Rs 1,600 crore for new licence holders according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), a telecom carrier would like to capitalise by ensuring widespread usage of mobile telephony.

3G services were first launched by NTT DoCoMo of Japan in October 2001, followed by Korea in January 2002.

As of December 2007, 190 3G networks were operating in 40 countries. There are about 225 million 3G subscribers worldwide today.