Mobile Network Evolution - ECI infographic

1. 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
1980
23,000
Subscribers
2006
2.7B
Subscribers
1986
1.4M
Subscribers
1995
91M
Subscribers
American user sends
35 SMS
per month
American user sends
144 SMS
per month
10 min.
to download a
3 min. mp3
Less than 1 min.
to download a
3 min. mp3
1.1kg
Weight
30min
Talk time
10hr
Charge 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 speeds
2.4kbps
Network speeds range
144kbps to 2Mbps
Network speeds
64kbps
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 2017
50% of the over 7B SIM
connections will be on 4G LTE
US operator revenue
$1.15 trillion
in 2014
5 min.
to download a
2 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
Present
15 sec.
to download a
3 min. mp3
Plethora of new use cases: IP telephony, new web access, gaming services,
high-definition mobile TV, 3D television and more
2020
2020 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 Technologies
Source: CNET Article
Source: Telsco.org
Source: EmpireOne
Source: Mobile Phone Market Growth
Source: A Brief History of Text Messaging
Source: 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 reach
10Gbps
Latency drops
50ms 1ms
Few seconds
to download a
2 hour movie
US operator revenue will reach
$1.4 trillion
By 2020
Capacity 1000 times bigger
Network supports 100 times more mobile connections