01 📡 Cellular Networks & Generations (3G/4G/5G)

Where does the term "cell" in "cell phone" come from?

From cellular networks, which use antennas to divide land into coverage areas called cells.

What two main types of communication do cellular networks provide?

Voice and data communication.

What year did 3G technology start taking off, and what capability did it add?

1998; it allowed larger amounts of data to be sent/received, enabling features like GPS, mobile TV, video on demand, and video conferencing.

What is 4G also commonly referred to as, and what underlying technology is it based on?

Long-Term Evolution (LTE); it's based on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), sometimes called EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution).

What was the maximum bandwidth for 4G, and what was it upgraded to with LTE Advanced (LTE-A)?

4G supported bandwidths up to 150 Mbps; LTE-A increased throughput up to 300 Mbps.

When was 5G introduced, and what is its maximum bandwidth over higher frequencies?

2020; up to 10 Gbps over higher frequencies (100–900 Mbps over other frequencies).

How has 5G's increased bandwidth impacted Internet of Things (IoT) devices?

It allows IoT devices to send large amounts of data instantly, enabling faster notifications and more data sent to the cloud for processing.