The evolution of mobile communication technology.
Cellular networks are wireless networks distributed over a large land area that is divided into smaller cells. Each cell is served by at least one fixed-location transceiver, known as a base station or cell tower. These networks have evolved through several generations. The first generation (1G), introduced in the 1980s, was based on analog technology and supported only voice calls. The second generation (2G), which appeared in the 1990s, was digital and introduced services like SMS (text messaging) and basic data services like GPRS and EDGE. The third generation (3G), launched in the early 2000s, was the first to provide true mobile broadband, enabling services like web browsing, email, and video calling on mobile devices, with speeds reaching a few Mbps. The fourth generation (4G), specifically LTE (Long-Term Evolution), represented a significant leap forward in the 2010s. It was based on an all-IP architecture and provided much higher data rates (tens or hundreds of Mbps), lower latency, and better quality of service, making high-definition video streaming and online gaming on mobile devices a reality. The latest generation is 5G, which is currently being deployed. 5G promises not just another jump in speed (multi-gigabit), but also extremely low latency (a few milliseconds), massive device connectivity, and greater reliability. These capabilities are designed to enable new applications like augmented reality, autonomous vehicles, and a massive Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem.