15-02-2011, 11:57 AM
Forward: The Public Safety Wireless Network(PSWN) Program is conducting an ongoingassessment of advancements in the wirelesscommunications industry. The scope of thisassessment is to identify emerging wireless servicesand technologies for potential public safety use in thenear future and beyond. This particular document isthe first of a series of emerging wireless technologiesstudies. This study will concentrate primarily on thefourth generation of mobile telecommunications andbeyond.Although the new, third generation(3G) wireless technology has not yet beenimplemented, leading companies in theindustry are already laying the groundworkfor what some are calling fourth generation(4G) technology. For the purposes of thisarticle, 4G will be considered thosetechnologies that are still in the planningstages and will not be deployed within thenext five years. Researchers are continuingtheir ideas in the development of anundefined wireless world, which couldbecome operational by 2010.The first generation (1G) and secondgeneration (2G) of mobile telephony wereintended primarily for voice transmission.The third generation of mobile telephony(3G) will serve both voice and dataapplications.There really is no clear definition ofwhat 4G will be. It is generally acceptedthat 4G will be a super-enhanced version of 3G – i.e., an entirely packet switchednetwork with all digital network elementsand extremely high available bandwidth.For the most part, it is believed that 4G willbring true multimedia capabilities such ashigh-speed data access and videoconferencing to the handset. It is alsoenvisioned that 4G systems will be deployedwith software defined radios, allowing theequipment to be upgraded to new protocolsand services via software upgrades. 4G alsoholds the promise of worldwide roamingusing a single handheld device.
Wireless Generations At-a-Glance
As with all technology progressions,the “next” upgrades must be in planning anddevelopment phases while its predecessorsare being deployed. This statement holdstrue with all mobile telecommunications todate. It seems that it will also hold true forthe next generations of wireless networks.The original analog cellular systemsare considered the first generation of mobiletelephony (1G). In the early 1980s, 1Gsystems were deployed. At the same time,the cellular industry began developing thesecond generation of mobile telephony (2G).The difference between 1G and 2G is in thesignaling techniques used: 1G used analogsignaling, 2G used digital signaling. Asexperience shows, the lead-time for mobilephone systems development is about 10years. It was not until the early to mid1990s that 2G was deployed.Primary thinking and conceptdevelopment on 3G generally began around1991 as 2G systems just started to roll out.Since the general model of 10 years todevelop a new mobile system is beingfollowed, that timeline would suggest 4Gshould be operational some time around2011. 4G would build on the second phase of 3G, when all networks are expected toembrace Internet protocol (IP) technology.During the last year, companies suchas Ericsson, Motorola, Lucent, Nortel andQualcomm came up with "3G-plus"concepts that would push performance ofapproved, though still emerging, standardsbeyond current ones.
download full report
http://www.safecomprogram.gov/NR/rdonlyr...yond3G.pdf
Wireless Generations At-a-Glance
As with all technology progressions,the “next” upgrades must be in planning anddevelopment phases while its predecessorsare being deployed. This statement holdstrue with all mobile telecommunications todate. It seems that it will also hold true forthe next generations of wireless networks.The original analog cellular systemsare considered the first generation of mobiletelephony (1G). In the early 1980s, 1Gsystems were deployed. At the same time,the cellular industry began developing thesecond generation of mobile telephony (2G).The difference between 1G and 2G is in thesignaling techniques used: 1G used analogsignaling, 2G used digital signaling. Asexperience shows, the lead-time for mobilephone systems development is about 10years. It was not until the early to mid1990s that 2G was deployed.Primary thinking and conceptdevelopment on 3G generally began around1991 as 2G systems just started to roll out.Since the general model of 10 years todevelop a new mobile system is beingfollowed, that timeline would suggest 4Gshould be operational some time around2011. 4G would build on the second phase of 3G, when all networks are expected toembrace Internet protocol (IP) technology.During the last year, companies suchas Ericsson, Motorola, Lucent, Nortel andQualcomm came up with "3G-plus"concepts that would push performance ofapproved, though still emerging, standardsbeyond current ones.
download full report
http://www.safecomprogram.gov/NR/rdonlyr...yond3G.pdf