4G

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This article or section contains information about conceptual products. The product(s) described in this page may or may not be launched and even if they are launched, they may be in a very different form than what has been mentioned here.

This article is about the mobile phone standard. For other uses, see 4G (disambiguation).

Mobile phone and data standards

0G PTT MTS IMTS AMTS OLT MTD Autotel/PALM ARP

1G NMT AMPS/TACS/ETACS Hicap CDPD Mobitex DataTac

2G GSM iDEN D-AMPS IS-95/cdmaOne PDC CSD PHS GPRS HSCSD WiDEN CDMA2000 1xRTT/IS-2000 EDGE (EGPRS)

3G W-CDMA UMTS (3GSM) FOMA TD-CDMA/UMTS-TDD 1xEV-DO/IS-856 TD-SCDMA GAN/UMA HSDPA HSUPA HSOPA

4G

Frequency bands SMR Cellular PCS

4G (or 4-G) is short for fourth-generation. There is no set definition to what 4G is, however the features that are predicted for 4G can be summarized in a single sentence.

The 4G will be a fully IP-based integrated system of systems and network of networks achieved after the convergence of wired and wireless networks as well as computer, consumer electronics, communication technology, and several other convergences that will be capable of providing 100 Mbps and 1Gbps, respectively, in outdoor and indoor environments with end-to-end QoS and high security, offering any kind of services anytime, anywhere, at affordable cost and one billing.^[1]

The WWRF (Wireless World Research Forum) defines 4G as a network that operates on Internet technology, combines it with other applications and technologies such as Wi-Fi and WiMAX, and runs at speeds ranging from 100 Mbps (in cell-phone networks) to 1 Gbps (in local Wi-Fi networks).^[2] 4G is not just one defined technology or standard, but rather a collection of technologies and protocols to enable the highest throughput, lowest cost wireless network possible.^[3] The official designation from the IEEE for 4G is Beyond 3G.^[4][5]

Contents 1 Objectives 2 Evolution 3 Components 3.1 Multi antenna systems 3.2 Software Defined Radio (SDR) 3.3 Smart antennas and beamforming 3.4 Adaptive modulation and coding 3.5 Access schemes 3.6 IPv6 3.7 Mesh network architectures 3.7.1 Heterogeneous 3.7.2 Co-operative 4 References 5 See also 6 External links and sources

[edit] Objectives

To cater the quality of service and rate requirements set by the forthcoming applications like multimedia messaging, mobile TV, High definition TV content, DVB and minimal service like voice and data at anytime and anywhere, the 4G working groups have defined the following as the objectives of the 4G wireless communication standard

• Spectrally efficient system (8 bits/s/Hz)^[6]
• High network capacity^[7]
• Nominal data rate at high speeds (100 Mbps at stationary conditions and 20 Mbps at 100 miles/hr)^[8]
• Smooth handoff across heterogeneous network^[9]
• Seamless connectivity and global roaming across multiple networks^[10]
• High quality of service for next generation multimedia support (real time audio, high speed data, HDTV video content, mobile TV, etc)^[10]
• Interoperable with the existing wireless standards^[11]
• All IP system, packet switched network^[10]

In summary, the 4G system should dynamically share and utilise the network resource to meet the minimal requirements of all the 4G enabled users.

[edit] Evolution

First generation: Most of the devices which came from this generation had military/Defence as its origin and then moved to civilian services. Almost all of them are analog systems where voice was considered to be the main traffic. Some of the standards are NMT, AMPS, Hicap, CDPD, Mobitex, DataTac

Second generation: All the standards belonging to this generation are commercial centric and they are digital in form. Two main groups have evolved one from Europe and another from America. Around 60% of the current market is dominated by European standards. The second generation standards are GSM, iDEN, D-AMPS, IS-95, PDC, CSD, PHS, GPRS, HSCSD, WiDEN, CDMA2000 (1xRTT/IS-2000), EDGE (EGPRS)

Third generation: To meet the growing demands in the number of subscribers (increase in network capacity), rates required for high speed data transfer and multimedia applications 3G standards started evolving. The systems in this standard is basically a linear enhancement of 2G systems. Currently, transition is happening from 2G to 3G systems. Some of the 3G standards are W-CDMA orUMTS (3GSM), FOMA, 1xEV-DO/IS-856, TD-SCDMA, GAN/UMA, 3.5G - HSDPA, 3.75G - HSUPA. The ITU defines a specific set of air interface technologies as third generation, as part of the IMT-2000 initiative.

Fourth generation: According to 4G working groups, the infrastructure and the terminals will have almost all the standards from 2G to 3G implemented. The system will also serve as an open platform where the new innovations can go with it. Some of the standards which pave the way for 4G systems are WiMax, WiBro, and the proposed 3GPP Long Term Evolution work-in-progress technologies such as HSOPA.

[edit] Components

[edit] Multi antenna systems

To cater the growing data rate needs of 4G, many transmission schemes had been proposed. In that spatial multiplexing has gained much importance for its bandwidth conservation and power efficiency. Spatial multiplexing is basically deploying multiple antenna at the transmitter and at the receiver. Independent streams can be transmitted simultaneously from all the antennas.

[edit] Software Defined Radio (SDR)

SDR is one form of open wireless architecture (OWA). Since 4G is the collection of wireless standards, the final form of the 4G device will constitute all standards. This can be realized using SDR technology.

[edit] Smart antennas and beamforming

[edit] Adaptive modulation and coding

The modulation and coding techniques change according to the network resource, user requirement and physical channel conditions. Cross-Layer Design techniques are being proposed for 4G.

[edit] Access schemes

The scarce resource frequency and network infrastructure is accessed using the channel accesing schemes. The existing wireless standards use TDMA, FDMA, CDMA and combinations of these. Recently, new access schemes like OFDMA and MC-CDMA gain more importance in 802.16e and 802.20 standards.

[edit] IPv6

It is generally believed that 4th generation wireless networks would support a great number of wireless devices that are addressable and routable. Therefore in the context of 4G, IPv6 is an important network layer technology and standard that can support a great number of wireless enabled devices. In addition to increasing the number of IP addresses, IPv6 also removes the need for Network Address Translation (NAT), a technique used between internet and intranet to make private IP addresses work with Internet applications, and to maintain privacy, which will be lost with IPv6. ^{[citation needed]}

In the context of 4G, IPv6 also enables a number of applications with better multi-cast, security and route optimization capabilities. With the available address space and number of addressing bits in IPv6, many innovative coding schemes can be developed for 4G devices and applications that could aid deployment of 4G networks and services.

[edit] Mesh network architectures

[edit] Heterogeneous

[edit] Co-operative

1. 4G technology stands to be the future standard of wireless devices. The Japanese company NTT DoCoMo and Samsung are testing 4G communication at 100 Mbit/s while moving, and 1 Gbit/s while stationary ^{[citation needed]}. NTT DoCoMo plans on releasing the first commercial network in 2010 and Samsung plans on commercialising this service by 2010 at Jeju Island, South Korea. Despite the fact that current wireless devices seldom utilize full 3G capabilities, there is a basic attitude that if you provide the pipeline then services for it will follow.
2. Pervasive networks. An amorphous and presently entirely hypothetical concept where the user can be simultaneously connected to several wireless access technologies and can seamlessly move between them (See handover, IEEE 802.21). These access technologies can be Wi-Fi, UMTS, EDGE or any other future access technology. Included in this concept is also smart-radio (also known as cognitive radio technology) to efficiently manage spectrum use and transmission power as well as the use of mesh routing protocols to create a pervasive network.

In general, a new generation is defined by the result of technology changes over a 10–15 year time frame. Thus, 4G would refer to whatever is deployed in the 2010–2015 period, assuming 3G deployment spans the 2000–2009 period. However, 3G is regarded by many as being "a bit of a flop",^{[citation needed]} so telecommunications companies are planning to roll out 4G earlier (possibly as early as 2008). The Chancellor of the Exchequer in the United Kingdom will auction 4G frequencies some time in 2007.^{[citation needed]}

Typically, a new standard means a new air-interface with higher data rates in the least, and some see change in the way data transport is handled end-to-end.

Ideally, 4G would provide users with on demand high quality video and audio. The killer application of 4G is not clear, but video is one of the big differences between 4G and 3G. 4G may use OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing), and also OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) to better allocate network resources to multiple users. 4G devices may use SDR (Software-defined radio) receivers which allows for better use of available bandwidth as well as making use of multiple channels simultaneously.

Unlike the 3G networks which are a jumble of circuit switched and packet switched networks, 4G will be based on packet switching only. This will require low-latency data transmission.

According to a Visant Strategies study (quoted in Wireless Week on 1 February 2006), there will be multiple competitors in this space, and gave the following projections:

• WiMAX - 7.2 million units by 2010
• Flash-OFDM - 13 million subscribers in 2010
• UMTS FDD - Valued at US$2 billion in 2010.

[edit] References

1. ^ Kim, Young Kyun., Prasad, Ramjee. 4G Roadmap and Emerging Communication Technologies. Artech House, pp. 12-13. ISBN-10: 1-58053-931-9.
2. ^ Is 4G The Future?. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
3. ^ 4G. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
4. ^ Beyond 3G. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
5. ^ Beyond 3G. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
6. ^ 4G - Beyond 2.5G and 3G Wireless Networks. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
7. ^ 4G Features. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
8. ^ Samsung achieves 4G wireless target. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
9. ^ Mobility Management Challenges and Issues in 4G Heterogeneous Networks. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
10. ^ ^{a b c} Mobile Communications Beyond 3G in the Global Context. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.
11. ^ The Path To 4G Will Take Many Turns. Retrieved on 20 November 2006.

[edit] See also

• IEEE 802.20
• IEEE 802.21
• Wi-Fi
• WiBro
• WiMAX
• 3GPP Long Term Evolution
• Mesh networking
• 3G - UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSOPA (LTE), 1xEV-DO, 1xEV-DV
• Handover
• iBurst

[edit] External links and sources

• 4G prototype testing
• NTT DoCoMO 4G Network
• NTT DoCoMo Official Homepage : HSDPA and 4G
• Research Directions for Fourth Generation Wireless
• Next Generation Mobile Networks
• 4G FAQ
• Ambient Networks Project An EU financed research project for "Mobile and Wireless Systems Beyond 3G"
• Overview 4G Mobile Technical White Paper
• Caribbean telecoms to invest in 4G wireless networks - (June 27, 2006) - Caribbean Net News