Domains of 3G and LTE Enabled Technologies - Case Study Example

Introduction: The modern times are dominated by the presence of digital technologies. These technologies are largely communication enabled. The field of communication is largely contributing towards these technologies operations and engagements. The wireless communication means have enabled far easier means of reach out towards one another. This has come in the form of journey undertaken in various generations. The First generation was characterized by the usage of analogue transmission and the following ones were that of the digital technology based communication. 3. G and 4.G enabled technologies are the state of the art enabled concepts and technologies that have enabled high speed digital transmission operations. Objectives: This paper looks into the following domains of 3.G and L.T.E enabled technologies. Existence and working of 3.G and 4.G enabled technologies. The software aspect, the hardware features and the salient features possessed by each and the manner in which they operate. Further, the paper explores the target segment and the areas in which these technologies find their usage. 3.G: 3rd generation technology follows the line of technologies after 2nd generation based technologies. The 3rd generation based technologies consist of set of protocols, standards and new concepts which provide further advanced and improved quality based services. 3G incorporates special set of software applications, as well as hardware devices. 3G enabled technologies incorporate set of frequencies, standards and patents that are formally approved by I.T.U (International Telecommunication Union). The I.T.U is a globally approved and globally centralized entity that defines the standards and ensures global transmission of digital communication across the wireless medium. Coding techniques: 3rd Generation based technologies come in the form of set of coding techniques that allow improved working in terms of security, speed and performance. One of the key coding techniques is that of C.D.M.A. C.D.M.A is an acronym for Code division Multiplexing Access. This comes as a successor to the T.D.M and F.D.M which were used by the 1st Generational and 2nd Generational technologies based communication. C.D.M.A provides advanced performances such as increased number of users’ facilitation, more secure transmission, less chances of interferences and breaking into the network and various other features. The 3G enabled technologies made it possible using the broadband technology speed for data transmission. It enabled Giga Bit transmissions which would be more effectively used in the 4th generation and proceeding technologies as the journey of advancements continue. Data rates variations: 3rd generation based technologies provide variable rates subject to the platform and medium. From a static station the data rates peak up to 384 kilo bits per second. On the go transmissions vary relatively in terms of speed. On the go rates are relatively low and are up to the range of 128 kilo bits per second. Owing to the data rates variation and a feature which comes as a positive side of this technology, the 3rd generational technologies are termed as the edge network enabled technologies. This means that they provide variable data rates subject to the end users reception and positioning capacity. Backward compatibility: 3rd Generation based technologies are backward compatible. They provide support for the predecessor coding techniques and data transmission technologies. These include T.D.M.A and F.D.M.A as prime examples of the predecessor technologies supporting coding schemes. E.D.G.E is a continuation standard of 2nd generation technology yet it is more loosely termed as a concept and technology built for the purpose of bringing about conformity and coherence towards the 3rd generation based technologies. Other salient features: 3rd Generation technology enabled standards consist of number of globally functional and approved standards. These include U.M.T.S acronym for Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems, CDMA 2000, 3GPP and Evolved Edge as other similar trending standards. Specific fields of application: The 3rd Generation technology enabled communication finds its application in various fields. It is not just limited to the field of telecommunication via voice calls rather various other domains and dimensions of usage. For example, it was the 3rd Generation technology enabled communication which made it possible engaging the two parties into video calls. The same video call provided support for the future technologies and an emerging concept of the video telephony enabled system of communication (JAMES, 2010,p. 23). Other usages of 3rd Generation enabled technologies include its usage in the Global Positioning System which again is an emerging concept and it finds its usage in transportation world, mobile phones, forecast systems and various other interconnected systems. L.T.E: Acronym for Long Term Evolution, it serves as another state of the art technology enabled communication feature. It is generically considered a product of the 4th Generation of communication technologies which succeeded the 3rd Generational communication standards. Taking things a step further, L.T.E provides specific data rates, support for the coding techniques that are further enhanced and effective as compared to the predecessor 3rd Generational technologies. It provides the following data rates in various environments: L.T.E takes the data rates step ahead of 3rd generation and provides data rates supported up to 326 Mega Bits per second (Strobel, 2013). The uplink speeds which are normally on the lower side are lower as compared to the downlink stream yet they are still strong enough when it comes to the previous technologies. The rates spike up to 86 Mega Bits per second. As compared to 3rd generation enabled technologies, L.T.E provides further improved bit rates. Commercial viability: L.T.E may not strictly make up for the direct standard of the 4th generation approved standard as there are various other standards in that category such as WIMAX and FDMA, yet L.T.E has allowed for improved functioning and delivery. This comes in the form of support for multi carriers and roaming beyond the continent and beyond a particular zone. The tri band feature in the modern mobile phones is enabled through the L.T.E technology which provides sufficient support for the devices to be made operational in the other parts of the world. The commercial viability of L.T.E formally came about only towards 2004 and 2005. This technology similar to the other 4th generational technology are termed as the innovation and products of Asia and were formally initiated from Japan ((Hasan, 2014, p. 47). South Korea, Japan, Russia, and United States of America are the large share holders in terms of the usage and implementation of this technology in to full commercial domain of telecommunication services along a digital spectrum. Spectrum Flexibility: One of the salient features of L.T.E is that of the spectrum flexibility. It can operate at a flexible bandwidth between various set of frequencies. These frequencies range from between 20 M.H.Z to 4.5 M.H.Z to 2.5 MHZ. This feature allows L.T.E accommodating various number of users from time to time subject to the load on the network. L.T.E advanced: In order to provide further strength and support to the L.T.E family, it was further strengthened by the L.T.E advanced. It is expressed as L.T.E-A. With the introduction of L.T.E advanced, the L.T.E technology was formally approved for and more strongly considered as a potential to enter into the family of 4th generation based digital communication technologies. Another added feature of L.T.E advance is that it provides backward compatible support towards L.T.E, which in directly enables it to operate in support with the UMTS, 3.G and the preceding technologies and digital communications standards. Steps ahead: while L.T.E provides support for the maximum bandwidth of 20 MHZ, the L.T.E advanced is aimed for providing support for beyond 20 M.H.Z. Commercially, Vodafone, Erickson and Telstra are few of the large mobile phone service providers who have embraced L.T.E Advanced for transmission support and provide commercial services through them. Large number of customers’ bench is enjoyed in United States of America. The technology is still termed being in its infancy and is bound to attract more number of customers in the coming times as well as pave way for the transition of the digital communication into 5th generational technology systems. Architectural features: On architectural front, L.T.E-Advanced provides number of features such as Evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Control. This enables the features of the L.T.E to perform on multiple nodes such as the broadcast domain. This architectural feature provides the L.T.E with flexibility and support with regard to overall flexibility of accommodating the customers and providing them with friendly interface. The technology itself is said to be largely and relatively more effectively functional only after the year 2015 and prior to that it has been largely used for testing patterns and on limited scales. The manner in which the L.T. E architecture is crafted, it enables the overall concept and technology to operate in a more active manner and thereby reducing any kind of latency and lag in the transmission between the different nodes. The protocols usage adopted by L.T.E-Advanced includes ARQ protocol (Dalhman & Parkwall, 2008). L.T.E provides support for the OFDM based multiplexing technology. Through the supporting and variable spectrum support, it additionally enables providing support for the FDD and TDD. Other advanced and sparkling features of L.T.E include link adaptation which makes the technology further strong in terms of architectural support. References: Dalhman, E., & Parkwall, S. (2008). Key Features of L.T.E Radio Interface. Ericson Review. Hasan, S. F. (2014). 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