Internet, Networking, & Security > The 5G Connection Corner 120 120 people found this article helpful What Was 3G Wireless Technology? Technical Specifications of 3G By Nadeem Unuth Nadeem Unuth Freelance Contributor University of Mauritius Nadeem Unuth is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who specializes in information and communication technology with a focus on VoIP. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on March 15, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email The 5G Connection Corner Browsers Cloud Services Error Messages Family Tech Home Networking 5G Antivirus Around the Web 3G was the third generation of wireless technologies. It comes with enhancements over earlier wireless technologies, such as high-speed transmission, advanced multimedia access, and global roaming. 3G was mostly used with mobile phones and handsets as a means to connect the phone to the internet or other IP networks in order to make voice and video calls, to download and upload data, and to surf the Web. The 3G standard has been superseded by the 4G standard, which itself is being eclipsed by 5G services. pictafolio/E+/Getty Images History of 3G 3G follows a pattern of G's that the ITU started in the early 1990s. The pattern is a wireless initiative called the International Mobile Communications 2000. 3G, therefore, comes just after 2G and 2.5G, the second-generation technologies. 2G technologies include, among others, the Global System for Mobile. 2.5G brought standards that are midway between 2G and 3G, including the General Packet Radio Service, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, and others. How Is 3G Better? 3G offered several enhancements over 2.5G and previous networks: Several times higher data speedEnhanced audio and video streamingVideoconferencing supportWeb and WAP browsing at higher speedsIPTV (TV through the internet) support Technical Specifications The transfer rate for 3G networks was between 128 and 144 kilobits per second for devices that are moving fast, and 384 kbps for slow ones — like walking pedestrians. For fixed wireless LANs, the speed goes beyond 2 Mbps. 3G included standards like W-CDMA, WLAN, and cellular radio, among others. Requirements for Use Unlike Wi-Fi, with which you can get for free in hotspots, you had to be subscribed to a service provider to get 3G network connectivity. This kind of service is often called a data plan or network plan. Your device connected to the 3G network through its SIM card (in the case of a mobile phone) or its 3G data card (which could be of different types, like USB, PCMCIA, etc.), both of which are usually provided or sold by the service provider. These cards are how the device connects to the internet when it is within range of a network. In fact, the device is backward compatible with older technologies, which is why a 3G compatible phone could get 2G service if it's available when 3G service is not. The 3G craze of the early 2010s has receded; most devices now support the 4G standard, using 3G as a fallback if 4G connections are not available. In some parts of the world, particularly in rural areas, 3G remains a backbone service. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit