Challenges in the migration to 4G: Reasons to Have 4G What's New in 4G?

1. CHALLENGES IN THE MIGRATION
TO 4G
GIRIJA SANKAR
DASH
EMBETICS
SOLUTIONS
Second-generation (2G) mobile systems were very successful in the previous decade. Their
success prompted the development of third generation (3G) mobile systems. While 2G
systems can carry speech and low-bit-rate data, 3G systems were designed to provide higher-
data-rate services. During the evolution from 2G to 3G, wireless systems such as GPRS, IMT-
2000, Bluetooth, WLAN, and HiperLAN, have been developed. As all these systems have
their own merits and shortcomings, there is no single system that is good enough to replace all
the other technologies.
Reasons to Have 4G
i. Support interactive multimedia services: teleconferencing, wireless Internet, etc.
ii. Wider bandwidths, higher bit rates.
iii. Global mobility and service portability.
iv. Low cost.
v. Scalability of mobile networks.
What's New in 4G?
i. Entirely packet-switched networks.
ii. All network elements are digital.
iii. Higher bandwidths to provide multimedia services at lower cost (up to 100Mbps).
iv. Tight network security.
Some technologies that will facilitate transition from 3G to 4G are:
1. ZigBee: Zigbee is a new wireless standard based on IEEE’s 802.15.4 specification that
could serve as a lower cost alternative for wireless sensing and control. It allows small
devices to quickly transmit small amounts of data such as temperature reading for
thermostats and on/off request for light switches or other remote monitoring and
control needs. ZigBee devices can transmit information beyond 20 meters and run for
years on inexpensive primary batteries.
2. UWB (Ultra-Wide Band): UWB is a short range wireless RF signal that can be used
to relay data from a host device to other devices in the immediate area. It works for
devices 10 meters apart, helping to create a wirefree home or office.
3. WiBro: The WiBro technology, short for “wireless broadband”, is based on the
802.16e standard. It offers mobility, wide area services and global standardization for
wireless broadband applications. With WiBro, users can wirelessly receive data
applications and multimedia content, at speeds up to 121 kmph, while travelling across
large geographic areas. The application of WiBro are diverse, including m-commerce,

2. mobile trading, entertainment (for real time streaming and broadcasting), 3D gaming,
interactive news and distance education
4. Wireless System discovery: To use 4G services, devices should be able to
dynamically select the wireless system. This process is complicated in a 4G network
because of its heterogeneous nature.
4G: The future look
E-mail: Sending e-mail could turn into a multi-media affair in a 4G world. Mobile users will
have a multimedia inbox, and receive mail attachments in the form of high resolution images,
audio and video clips. The user can reply by recording an audio message, snapping a photo or
shooting a video, and sending it right back using just a mobile.
Health Monitoring: 4G could result in an increase in remote health monitoring of patients, as
faster, real time communication enables better two way transmission of vital medical data.
Tracking: The virtual presence system would also be able to track the exact whereabouts of
individuals in case they need to be contacted. This capability might be used for law
enforcement (checking whether the prisoners are where they are supposed to be) and tracking
of packages and cargo shipments more precisely.
Networking and Global roaming: 4G will allow any mobile device run different wireless
technologies automatically, and maintain connections seamlessly, using small software. The
software will also be capable of choosing the best connection available according to the users
intentions.
4G will connect the entire globe and be operable from practically anywhere on the Earth. It
would allow for more complex voice-over-IP services, more media rich messaging services
and more native support for local area networking on handsets.