Name: _______________________________ Date: __________________________________ Class:__________________________________

Data Communication Home Work

1. Complete the following table on the generations of mobile networks (25 marks)

Generation Brief overview Two Main Features Meaning of acronyms where Data Picture of device used in the
applicable for main development transfer generation
(e.g. SMS) rate
First generation mobile
1G networks were reliant upon Voice Signals AMPS – Advance Mobile Phone N/A
analog radio systems which Analogue Cellular Service
meant that users could only Phones
make phone calls, they TACS – Total Access Communication
couldn’t send or receive text System
messages. The 1G network was
first introduced in Japan in
1979 before it was rolled out in
other countries such as the
USA in 1980. In order to make
it work, cell towers were built
around the country which
meant that signal coverage
could be obtained from greater
distances. However, the
network was unreliable and
had some security issues. For
instance, cell coverage would
often drop, it would
experience interference by
other radio signals and due to
a lack of encryption, it could
easily be hacked.
Name: _______________________________ Date: __________________________________ Class:__________________________________

Generation Brief overview Two Main Features Meaning of acronyms where Data Picture of device used in the
applicable for main development transfer generation
(e.g. SMS) rate
The 1G network was not Voice and Data Signals GSM – Global System for Mobile 236. 8 kbps
2G, 2.5G, perfect, but it remained until Digital Fidelity cell
2.75G remained until 1991 when it phones Digital-AMPS – Digital Advance
was replaced with 2G. This Mobile Phone Service
new mobile network ran on
digital signal, not analog, GPRS – General Packet Radio
which vastly improved its Services
security but also its capacity. EDGE – Enhanced Data Rates for
On 2G, users could send SMS GSM Evolution
and MMS messages (although CDMA - Code Division Multiple
slowly and often without Access
success) and when GPRS was MMS
introduced in 1997, users SMS
could receive and send emails
on the move.

Third generation mobile Voice, Data and Video UMTS – Universal Mobile 384 kbps
3G networks are still in use today, signals Telecommunications System
but normally when the Video telephony/
superior 4G signal fails. 3G internet surfing IMT – International
revolutionized mobile Telecommunications
connectivity and the
capabilities of cell-phones. In
comparison to 2G, 3G was W-CDMA – Wideband Code Division
much faster and could transmit Multiple Access
greater amounts of data. This
means that users could video
call, share files, surf the
internet, watch TV online and
play online games on their
mobiles for the first time.
Under 3G, cell-phones where
Name: _______________________________ Date: __________________________________ Class:__________________________________

Generation Brief overview Two Main Features Meaning of acronyms where Data Picture of device used in the
applicable for main development transfer generation
(e.g. SMS) rate
no longer just about calling
and texting, they were the hub
of social connectivity.

The introduction of 4G went High speed and LTE – Long-Term Evolution Up to 1

4G one step further than the IP-based Gbps
revolutionary 3G. It’s five times MIMO – Multiple Input Multiple
faster than the 3G network – Interoperability Output
and can in theory provide Protocol
speeds of up to 100Mbps. All
mobile models released from
2013 onwards should support
this network, which can offer
connectivity for tablets and
laptops as well as
smartphones. Under 4G, users
can experience better latency
(less buffering), higher voice
quality, easy access to instant
messaging services and social
media, quality streaming and
make faster downloads.

The 5G network is yet to be Higher speed and MIMO – Multiple Input Multiple Over 1
5G released but is widely IP-based Output Gbps
anticipated by the mobile
industry. Many experts claim Connects multiple
that the network will change devices
not just how we use our
mobiles, but how we connect
our devices to the internet.
The improved speed and
Name: _______________________________ Date: __________________________________ Class:__________________________________

Generation Brief overview Two Main Features Meaning of acronyms where Data Picture of device used in the
applicable for main development transfer generation
(e.g. SMS) rate
capacity of the network will
signal new IoT trends, such as
connected cars, smart cities
and IoT in the home and office.

2. For each of the following applications/sectors, describe two ways in which mobile networks would be suitable. (10 marks)
Name: _______________________________ Date: __________________________________ Class:__________________________________

Application Description 1 Description 2

EDUCATION
Use Of Audio Recording Feature Chat And Online Discussion Forums

Students often require personal and Lecturers can exploit the group chat
quality feedback on the work they turn features of mobile devices to create an
in. Lecturers can make use of the audio online discussion forum to encourage
recording feature built into most class participation on content topics,
smartphones to provide these personal even outside the classroom. Students
and yet quality feedback to all can chat and discuss (with or without
students. Research has proven that the lecturer) while at home or over the
students not just liked feedback given weekend on a subject in class to
this way, but even preferred it. increase understanding of concepts.

COMMERCE

JOURNALISM
Record and file audio clips Shoot videos when action
strikes

MEDICINE

MANUFACTURING
Name: _______________________________ Date: __________________________________ Class:__________________________________

https://support.chinavasion.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/284/42/1g-2g-3g-4g---the-evolution-of-wireless-generations, Retrieved on
February 26, 2020

https://www.justaskgemalto.com/us/generations-mobile-networks-explained/, Retrieved on February 26, 2020

https://elearningindustry.com/5-uses-mobile-technology-in-the-classroom