eci mobile network evolution infographic

The Mobile Network Evolution

1980s: Birth of 1G Analog Mobile Networks

Early 2000s: 3G Mobile Networks Cater to Data Demand

1990s: 2G Mobile Networks Get Digital

198023,000Subscribers

20062.7BSubscribers

19861.4MSubscribers

199591MSubscribers

American user sends35 SMSper month

American user sends144 SMSper month

10 min.to download a3 min. mp3

Less than 1 min.to download a3 min. mp3

1.1kgWeight

30minTalk time

10hrCharge time

First mobile phone:

When the first mobile network emerged in the 1980s, no one could have expected the kind of technology we have now. Even with the high performance of today’s 4G LTE networks, users are demanding more and communications service providers are poised to deliver. As the International Telecommunications Union delivers its roadmap for 5G delivery by 2020, let’s take a look back at how the mobile network evolution has shaped up and how it will change with 5G.

While the benefits of mobile voice communication were groundbreaking, 1G was unencrypted and highly vulnerable to attacks such as eavesdropping and cell phone cloning.

3G network innovation was sparked by the need to support mobile phones as an integral part of everyday lives. The packet switching data transmission supported major speed increases over circuit switching in 2G.

The digital, circuit-switched TDMA upgrade introduced three key benefits: encryption for greater security, greater efficiency in the radio spectrum, and the advent of data services.

1980s

2000s

1990s

Inefficiencies over the radio spectrum prohibit any data transfer

Network speeds2.4kbps

Network speeds range144kbps to 2Mbps

Network speeds64kbps

1983 Motorola DynaTAC 8000X cost$3995

Poor compression degrades quality—though it’s improved over analog 1G

Improve security even more with greater reliance on bandwidth and location services that enable new applications

Media streaming (radio and television) became a reality over mobile networks

2007 to Present: 4G Mobile Networks Bring Phone Capabilities to New Heights

By 201750% of the over 7B SIM connections will be on 4G LTE

US operator revenue$1.15 trillion in 2014

5 min.to download a2 hour movie

While 3G was born out of a realization that mobile devices will be an integral part of our daily lives, 4G is meant to improve upon its capabilities.

2007to

Present15 sec.to download a3 min. mp3

Plethora of new use cases: IP telephony, new web access, gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, 3D television and more

20202020 and Beyond: Where 5G Is Taking the Mobile Network

The LTE Backhaul Challenge

For more information about the mobile network evolution and ElastiNET’s ability to ease the service provider migration, contact ECI today!

Source: Presentation on 1G/2G/3G/4G/5G Cellular and Wireless TechnologiesSource: CNET ArticleSource: Telsco.orgSource: EmpireOne

Source: Mobile Phone Market GrowthSource: A Brief History of Text MessagingSource: ZDNet Article on 3G Source: GSMA Mobile Economy Report

By 2020, the world is expected to have approximately 6.1 billion active smartphone users. 4G LTE networks offer advanced capabilities, but will crumble under the weight of data demands from so many devices. 5G promises to support all of the demands of our mobile future as it rolls out in 2020.

The buzz surrounding 4G and 5G is only as valuable as our ability to solve the current LTE backhaul challenges. Scalability, the need for a flat architecture, and the persistence of legacy networks present challenges for the mobile network evolution. With ECI’s ElastiNET™, the LTE backhaul can improve due to:• Mobile network scalability and flexibility for handling microcell architectures • End-to-end packet transport• Multi-service capabilities • Simplified network control by decoupling transport and service layers

Network speeds will reach10Gbps

Latency drops50ms 1msFew secondsto download a2 hour movie

US operator revenue will reach$1.4 trillion By 2020

Capacity 1000 times bigger

Network supports 100 times more mobile connections