Stefanie Khaw

3G is short for third-generation mobile telephone technology. It’s a mobile phone standard and is in essence an indication of how efficiently data can be transferred. To understand what “third-generation” means, we need to look back at 3G’s geneaology and identify what sets it apart from its predecessors.  

In the beginning there was 1G, first generation technology: AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service) provided users with analogue voice service but no data service. Analogue networks in Europe faced escalating problems such as poor quality of service and low levels of security which led to the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network being launched in 1992.

GSM users were offered digital voice service, which was far better than its analogue ancestor, and enjoyed enhanced calling features like caller ID. Data was able to be transferred, but at a glacial rate of 14.4 Kbps (kilobits per second).

Developers didn’t stop there – they took an evolutionary half-step to 2.5G resulting in GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) with transmission speeds of up to 40Kbps. A further evolution brought us EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution). The technology is often referred to as 2.75G and managed to boost transmission speeds up to 200Kbps.

This brings us finally to 3G which offers users superior voice quality, enhanced roaming capabilites and broadband data transmission rates of 2Mbps (megabits per second)… theoretically, at least.

This means connecting to the Internet is a breeze now. Your local café may provide free Wi-Fi services, but when too many customers sip your lattes while surfing the Internet, the system is very likely going to be bogged down resulting in very laggy surfing. 3G now offers you a faster and logistically more efficient alternative.  

Video conferencing was initially marketed as 3G’s most essential feature but studies have shown that music downloads are in strong demand while video telephony only accounts for a very small fraction of usage. 3G applications include map and positioning services, multiplayer gaming, online chatting and live feeds of stock market updates.

3G was initially meant to be a globally unified system but the fact is that the technology has split into four different camps. Since we’ve currently got our hands full with a multitude of acronyms, I won’t confuse you further by going into much detail about these.

What’s important to know is that 3G in Malaysia is of the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) technology kind. It’s also widely recognised as 3GSM because it emphasises the combination of the 3G nature of the technology and the GSM standard that it was designed to succeed.

Maxis and Celcom provide unlimited Internet browsing for RM120 and RM150 per month respectively. Once you add the cost of normal calls, you’ll find that this amounts to quite a hefty sum.

The other mobile service provider in Malaysia, DiGi is currently bidding for a 3G license against pay-TV operator MiTV Corporation and TT Dotcom.

But it will be a while before 3G services take off in Malaysia. One setback is coverage: Maxis’ coverage is largely concentrated within the Klang Valley only while Celcom tops it a little by covering parts of Kedah, Penang, Malacca and Johor Bharu as well.

The main hindrance to 3G adoption in this country is cost. For 3G to take off, the consumer base has to increase and thus high prices charged to 3G users is not helping. The cost of 3G-enabled phones is also a barrier. Good 3G phones which I’d recommend include Samsung’s SGH-Z500, Sony Ericsson’s K600i, Nokia’s N90 and Motorola’s C975.

By now I’m sure you’re pretty well-versed in 3G-lingo. My final nugget of wisdom to you concerns what is to come – 3.5G and 4G. The former promises data transmission rates of up to 10Mbps while the latter is undergoing tests in Japan for communication at 1Gbps (Gigabit per second).

So if you want to impress your friends during your next phone-centric conversation, try throwing in a couple of acronyms and you’ll definitely have them baffled by your new-found wisdom.