4G Wireless Systems - Essay Example

4G Wireless Systems Table of Content ………………………………………………………………………………………... 4 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………. 5 Generations of Wireless Systems……………………………………………………………….... 6 4G Wireless Systems…………………………………………………………………………….. 7 Disadvantages of 4G Wireless Systems………………………………………………………...... 8 Benefits of 4G Wireless Systems………………………………………………………………… 9 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….... 10 References………………………………………………………………………………………. 13 Abstract: This paper looks at the various generations of technology in the wireless systems starting with a brief introduction of the previous generations of wireless technology. There is a further brief on what fourth generation wireless technology is and the new methods applied in this generation. The paper goes on to outline the benefits and the downsides of the new generation technology and how beneficial it would be in actuality to implement 4G systems in workplaces. Introduction Wireless technology in all capacities has become a means of life in the world that we live in today and it is now an integral part of our daily lives. If one takes a walk down a street of a city such as New York City it is hard to find someone who is not using a cell phone to make a call, send a text or even check the news with the help of wireless technology. Humans have come a far away from the time when letters were written and transferred with the help of horse pulled carriages to the better mail service and then finally the internet. The internet has too advanced as well as all those forms of technologies that are related to the World Wide Web. Once we used to use a phone line to connect to the internet and then there were DSL cables and fiber optic cables and then wireless technology was created. Communication and being connected has become a necessity now and it’s been noticed by many. Companies work day and night to improve on what we already have, not many of the cafes that we now go to do not have free wireless services to offer to customers. Even hotels and other services of the sort offer wireless internet. Now it is not only internet providers who are using the wireless technology but also cell phone companies that are making use of this system to improve their service. This transfer of date has become possible with the help of satellites that orbit the earth. Data packets are sent wirelessly to the satellites that help to transfer data quickly. This change has brought about much relief for the general public as now communication can be easier and much faster and not to mention it has become a lot less tedious. However, the fast paced changes in the technological world make it a lot harder for various companies and industries to keep up. One day a new product is introduced and the next day the team sits down to chalk out the plans to make the product better. A perfect example would be Apple’s effort to introduce new and improved versions of the Iphone and then there is competition that makes companies run faster and faster. Using the last example of Apple it is now common knowledge that Google’s Android is becoming competition to the Iphone. In the same manner wireless systems have evolved from time to time and continue to do so. Generations of Wireless Systems The wireless communication systems have been defined by giving then designations with regards to generations. The first generation was introduced in the early 1980s and made use of analog frequency modulation and were more or less used for the purpose of voice communication. It was not much later in the late 1980s that the second generation of wireless system technology made its way in the market was once again focused on voice communication (Scribd, 2008). Later, instead of a third generation technology there was a midway between the second and third generation know as 2.5 generation. It was used more or less for the purpose of marketing as it was not officially defined by the International Telecommunication (Geek Interview). This generation of wireless systems combined the second generation cellular systems with the General Packet Radio Services (GPRS). The second generation wireless technology used Global System from Mobile (GSM) service and it is with this that the General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) was used with later to define the 2.5 generation systems. The third generation wireless systems were introduced in late 2002 and were designed for more than just voice communication. It was meant for the purpose of being used in pager services along with media services such as teleconferencing and other internet services (Stair and Reynolds, 2009). 4G Wireless Systems The latest wireless system technology also known as the fourth generation wireless system was thought of by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency which was also the same agency that is said to have created the wired internet. The fourth generation wireless system has been designed to make communication possible between different wireless devices and make it possible to provide connections along different standards (Durscha, et al., 2004). The 4G systems support much more than the previous generations did and has been made to incorporate not only voice communication but also support interactive communication, and video feeds plus various other services. The new 4G system is believed to be much faster than its previous systems and since it has introduced higher capacity it is also lower in terms of cost per bit (Pagani, 2010). Those who are in favor of the 4G systems have made it a point to put forward the idea that the main idea behind this generation technology should be the integration of all wireless networks into one flawless system. However, one of the main features of the fourth generation wireless systems is that it allows better mobility and this grants a lot more freedom to the public and business plus the extra data transmission range which will increase significantly from 2 megabits per second to about 20 megabits per second. The large amount of bandwidth provided will encourage businesses to send more data across the internet and this will also encourage more use of the technology. As the fourth generation wireless technology will be designed to handle a sufficiently large amount of data there will be an immense influx of data as the previous generation systems were only meant to cater to voice communication alone. The fourth generation system will be able to be used as a Digital Subscriber Line or DSL but without the hassle of all the wires that come with the service plus the incorporation of all wireless technology into one standard is quite useful (Schneiderman, 2002). The usefulness of such a feature can be observed by considering that companies that do business internationally or even businesses that have an interconnection with offices around that world can send data across to each other without having to go through the trouble of finding a compatible standard common to all. As the fourth generation system will be introduced on the Internet Provider (IP) network technology it will be able to allow access to other technologies as Bluetooth. Due to the number of advancements that have been allowed in the fourth generation system some companies have even considered a straight jump from the 2.5 generation system to the fourth generation and this may well be beneficial. The third generation systems technology is much more costly than that of the fourth generation equipment and perhaps with even greater allowance there can be even more cost reduction (Gobjuka, 2009).  Disadvantages of 4G Wireless Systems However, there can be plenty of problems when regarding the disadvantages that fourth generation systems may have over the systems before it. One of the main disadvantages that may cause people to think twice before buying such technology would be the fact that the implementation of the fourth generation system can be costly. The equipment for the initial installation of the system will cost quite a lot and not many would be willing to spend much on such equipment. Due to the lack of initiative by some to introduce the technology there has been some limitation with regards to coverage. The lack of coverage may vice versa discourage people from installing 4G systems in their homes and businesses. There has been a rapid growth in the service but still many areas don’t yet offer the service. Fourth generation systems are still in the initial stages and are not yet quite perfected and there may be possible issues or glitches in the service that a person might receive in their particular locality. Though the bugs are constantly being looked into by those involved and the service is being improved from time to time (Williamson, 2010). As the 4G system is new and has not entirely been perfected as of yet. There is a security issue and measures need to be taken to ensure privacy. It has become pertinent for organizations to now figure out some way to ensure that the data that they are sending with the use of wireless systems will not be compromised. Due to the particular character of wireless networks there is an increased likelihood that these networks will be more prone to security threats and attacks. Another problem is the discrepancy in the security schemes used in the third and fourth generation systems which will need to be standardized. Since it has already been established that it would be beneficial for businesses and companies to implement the 4G system in their workplace the feasibility of the technology will also need to be implored upon. Some companies that have been in business for some time will have had equipment and other systems installed a while back and when introducing the 4G system they need to make sure that their current systems are compatible with 4G systems. Not only this, as pointed out previously in the paper, there can be a lack of compatibility with companies that business is being done with which will need to be looked at. Whereas on the other hand transfer of information will become a lot faster and a lot easier. Benefits of 4G wireless systems But there are several advantages that 4G systems have. The first is the advantage of being able to enjoy high speed internet. Not only does this form of technology allow for quicker internet surfing it can also allow internet users to indulge in activities that require larger data transmission such as video and audio streaming as would be the case with Skype users. Gamers can use the technology to play with others around the globe in real time and even downloading particular programs and movies has become possible thanks to this generation of wireless systems. In terms of advantages a second one would be the lesser reliance on the DSL cable to keep one connected. In the technological generations before the fourth users were tied down to one place in order to maintain an internet connection however, with the fourth generation wireless system one can just install a wireless router in their home or workplace and be free to move around. Though on the other hand now a day there have been a rapid increase in the routers that are installed in public places and this is useful since as long as one is in the range of or within the wireless router you have internet access. One of the major benefits of 4G technology is that it can help to increase business efficiency. Managers and administrators and other members of any particular business or industry can use a PDA or a phone to connect to the web and send and receive emails, presentations and other business related documents. Conclusion There are questions as to why have a fourth generation when the previous generation is working perfectly fine and this can be attributed to the increasing internet users and their demand for more data transmission. Not only do they demand more data transmission but also faster transmission. The large number of internet users will cause a slowdown in the internet speed and boggle the net usage. The 4G system is a solution to this problem. In the current economic situation time and resources are very important and need to be spent sparingly. The cost of replacing a system already in place will be extensive and perhaps not always for the best. Since technology is moving faster than ever now and new technological systems being penned out each day there needs to be consideration whether establishing a technology bound to be replaced should be put in. It is true that the equipment for the 4G system will be costly at the onset but later on the costs do tend to run down. Wireless networks are also posing threats to sensitive agencies. When concerning the 4G wireless networks security is mainly about authentification and confidentiality. The 4G networks do not allow the type of security allowed by cables neither can they be traced. When DSLs were being used the hacker could be traced with the help of signals being traced but with wireless internet this becomes harder as hotspots are readily available in all public places. Hackers thus do not need to have a separate connection for connectivity. They can simply sit at a café and connect to the internet using wireless routers of others. In the beginning the threats that were looked at more were external and developers looked to stop outsiders from hacking into a particular network. This approach to the problem fell through as people were now trying to find loopholes in the security system of a network and managed to introduce malware. The malware managed to weaken the security system even further and allowed hackers access to personal data and other information about individuals using the particular network. The internet has proved to be a challenge for even those who have created it. The demands that it is pulling out of the general public and the constant need to improve on it has caused endless research and time and money to be spent. We can no longer buy a gadget today and expect that to be at the top of the chain for some time running. The same applies to wireless system technology. Developers will continue to make it easier to connect people to each other’s and attempt to make life simpler and easier for all. The wireless technology is new to the world and is relatively young being in use for not long hence there are still some issues that need to be solved. Currently there are not many providers in the market who can cater to all the people who are demanding wireless systems. Clear wire’s 4G WiMax is the only service out in the market that provided wireless networking in the United States and that too was not being served country wide (Reardon, 2010). This will make the transition process from the 3G networks to 4G networks slower. The service may not be for all either as some avid users of the internet like to download large amounts of data. This purpose cannot be well served with the help of wireless technology as the further one is from the router the slower the downloading and surfing speed. It is believed that the more service providers that appear on the scene the lesser the prices of the service. This will further the transition from the past generation system to the fourth generation technology. There have been various developments regarding each new generation of wireless systems and there will be more to come as there are rumors already of 5G networks (Thomas, 2010). 4G systems are stepping stones till the next system is introduced. 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