A mobile broadband modem in the ExpressCard form factor for laptop computers
HTC ThunderBolt, the second commercially available LTE smartphone

Mobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access via mobile networks. Access to the network can be made through a portable modem, wireless modem, or a tablet/smartphone (possibly tethered) or other mobile device. The first wireless Internet access became available in 1991 as part of the second generation (2G) of mobile phone technology. Higher speeds became available in 2001 and 2006 as part of the third (3G) and fourth (4G) generations. In 2011, 90% of the world's population lived in areas with 2G coverage, while 45% lived in areas with 2G and 3G coverage.[1] Mobile broadband uses the spectrum of 225 MHz to 3700 MHz.[2]

Description

Mobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access delivered through cellular towers to computers and other digital devices using portable modems. Although broadband has a technical meaning, wireless-carrier marketing uses the phrase "mobile broadband" as a synonym for mobile Internet access. Some mobile services allow more than one device to be connected to the Internet using a single cellular connection using a process called tethering.[3]

The bit rates available with Mobile broadband devices support voice and video as well as other data access. Devices that provide mobile broadband to mobile computers include:

Internet access subscriptions are usually sold separately from mobile service subscriptions.

Generations

Roughly every ten years, new mobile network technology and infrastructure involving a change in the fundamental nature of the service, non-backwards-compatible transmission technology, higher peak data rates, new frequency bands, and/or wider channel frequency bandwidth in Hertz, becomes available. These transitions are referred to as generations. The first mobile data services became available during the second generation (2G).[4][5][6]

Second generation (2G) from 1991:
Speeds in kbit/s down and up
• GSM CSD 9.6
• CDPD up to 19.2
• GSM GPRS (2.5G) 56–115
• GSM EDGE (2.75G)  up to 237
Third generation (3G) from 2001:
Speeds in Mbit/s down up
• UMTS W-CDMA 0.4
• UMTS HSPA 14.4 5.8
• UMTS TDD 16
• CDMA2000 1xRTT 0.3 0.15
• CDMA2000 EV-DO 2.5–4.9 0.15–1.8
• GSM EDGE-Evolution  1.6 0.5
Fourth generation (4G) from 2006:
Speeds in Mbit/s down up
• HSPA+ 21–672 5.8–168
• Mobile WiMAX (802.16) 37–365 17–376
• LTE 100–300 50–75
• LTE-Advanced:  
  • while moving at high speeds 100
  • while stationary or moving at low speeds up to 1000
• MBWA (802.20) 80
Fifth generation (5G) from 2018:
Speeds in Mbit/s down up
• HSPA+ 400–25000 200–3000
• Mobile WiMAX (802.16) 300–700 186–400
• 5G 400–3000 500–1500

[7]

The download (to the user) and upload (to the Internet) data rates given above are peak or maximum rates and end users will typically experience lower data rates.

WiMAX was originally developed to deliver fixed wireless service with wireless mobility added in 2005. CDPD, CDMA2000 EV-DO, and MBWA are no longer being actively developed.

Coverage

Mobile broadband Internet subscriptions in 2012
as a percentage of a country's population
Source: International Telecommunication Union.[8]

In 2011, 90% of the world's population lived in areas with 2G coverage, while 45% lived in areas with 2G and 3G coverage,[1] and 5% lived in areas with 4G coverage. By 2017 more than 90% of the world's population is expected to have 2G coverage, 85% is expected to have 3G coverage, and 50% will have 4G coverage.[9]

A barrier to mobile broadband use is the coverage provided by the mobile service networks. This may mean no mobile network or that service is limited to older and slower mobile broadband technologies. Customers will not always be able to achieve the speeds advertised due to mobile data coverage limitations including distance to the cell tower. In addition, there are issues with connectivity, network capacity, application quality, and mobile network operators' overall inexperience with data traffic.[10] Peak speeds experienced by users are also often limited by the capabilities of their mobile phone or other mobile device.[9]

Subscriptions and usage

Worldwide broadband subscriptions[11]
Users 2007 2010 2016 2019[12]
World population[13] 6.6 billion 6.9 billion 7.3 billion 7.75 billion
Fixed broadband 5% 8% 11.9% 14.5%
Developing world 2% 4% 8.2% 11.2%
Developed world 18% 24% 30.1% 33.6%
Mobile broadband 4% 11% 49.4% 83%
Developing world 1% 4% 40.9% 75.2%
Developed world 19% 43% 90.3% 121.7%
Broadband subscriptions by region[14]
Subscription Place 2007 2010 2014 2019[15]
Fixed Africa 0.1% 0.2% 0.4% 0.4%
Americas 11% 14% 17% 22%
Arab States 1% 2% 3% 8.1%
Asia and Pacific 3% 6% 8% 14.4%
Commonwealth of
Independent States 		2% 8% 14% 19.8%
Europe 18% 24% 28% 31.9%
Mobile Africa 0.2% 2% 19% 34%
Americas 6% 23% 59% 104.4%
Arab States 0.8% 5% 25% 67.3%
Asia and Pacific 3% 7% 23% 89%
Commonwealth of
Independent States 		0.2% 22% 49% 85.4%
Europe 15% 29% 64% 97.4%

At the end of 2012 there were estimated to be 6.6 billion mobile network subscriptions worldwide (89% penetration), representing roughly 4.4 billion subscribers (many people have more than one subscription). Growth has been around 9% year-on-year.[16] Mobile phone subscriptions were expected to reach 9.3 billion in 2018.[9]

At the end of 2012 there were roughly 1.5 billion mobile broadband subscriptions, growing at a 50% year-on-year rate.[16] Mobile broadband subscriptions were expected to reach 6.5 billion in 2018.[9]

Mobile data traffic doubled between the end of 2011 (~620 Petabytes in Q4 2011) and the end of 2012 (~1280 Petabytes in Q4 2012).[16] This traffic growth is and will continue to be driven by large increases in the number of mobile subscriptions and by increases in the average data traffic per subscription due to increases in the number of smartphones being sold, the use of more demanding applications and in particular video, and the availability and deployment of newer 3G and 4G technologies capable of higher data rates. Total mobile broadband traffic was expected to increase by a factor of 12 to roughly 13,000 PetaBytes by 2018 .[9]

On average, a mobile laptop generates approximately seven times more traffic than a smartphone (3 GB vs. 450 MB/month). This ratio was forecast to fall to 5 times (10 GB vs. 2 GB/month) by 2018. Traffic from mobile devices that tether (share the data access of one device with multiple devices) can be up to 20 times higher than that from non-tethering users and averages between 7 and 14 times higher.[9]

It has also been shown that there are large differences in subscriber and traffic patterns between different provider networks, regional markets, device and user types.[9]

Demand from emerging markets has fuelled growth in both mobile device and mobile broadband subscriptions and use. Lacking widespread fixed-line infrastructure, many emerging markets use mobile broadband technologies to deliver affordable high-speed internet access to the mass market.[17]

One common use case of mobile broadband is among the construction industry.[18]

Development

Service mark for GSMA mobile broadband

In use and under active development

GSM family

Further information: List of LTE networks and List of HSPA+ networks

In 1995 telecommunication, mobile phone, integrated-circuit, and laptop computer manufacturers formed the GSM Association to push for built-in support for mobile-broadband technology on notebook computers. The association established a service mark to identify devices that include Internet connectivity.[19] Established in early 1998, the global Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) develops the evolving GSM family of standards, which includes GSM, EDGE, WCDMA/UMTS, HSPA, LTE and 5G NR.[20] In 2011 these standards were the most used method to deliver mobile broadband.[citation needed] With the development of the 4G LTE signalling standard, download speeds could be increased to 300 Mbit/s per second within the next several years.[21]

IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX)

Further information: List of deployed WiMAX networks

The IEEE working group IEEE 802.16, produces standards adopted in products using the WiMAX trademark. The original "Fixed WiMAX" standard was released in 2001 and "Mobile WiMAX" was added in 2005.[22] The WiMAX Forum is a non-profit organization formed to promote the adoption of WiMAX compatible products and services.[23]

In use, but moving to other protocols

CDMA family

Further information: List of CDMA2000 networks

Established in late 1998, the global Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) develops the evolving CDMA family of standards, which includes cdmaOne, CDMA2000, and CDMA2000 EV-DO. CDMA2000 EV-DO is no longer being developed.[24]

IEEE 802.20

In 2002, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) established a Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) working group.[25] They developed the IEEE 802.20 standard in 2008, with amendments in 2010.[26]

Edholm's law

Main article: Edholm's law

Edholm's law in 2004 noted that the bandwidths of wireless cellular networks have been increasing at a faster pace compared to wired telecommunications networks.[27] This is due to advances in MOSFET wireless technology enabling the development and growth of digital wireless networks.[28] The wide adoption of RF CMOS (radio frequency CMOS), power MOSFET and LDMOS (lateral diffused MOS) devices led to the development and proliferation of digital wireless networks in the 1990s, with further advances in MOSFET technology leading to rapidly increasing network bandwidth since the 2000s.[29][30][31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "The World in 2011: ITC Facts and Figures", International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Geneva, 2011
  2. ^ Spectrum Dashboard Archived 2019-12-22 at the Wayback Machine, Federal Communications Commission official website
  3. ^ Mustafa Ergen (2009). Mobile Broadband: including WiMAX and LTE. Springer Science+Business Media. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-68192-4. ISBN 978-0-387-68189-4.
  4. ^ "Overview on mobile broadband technologies", EBU (European Broadcasting Union) workshop on mobile broadband technologies, Qualcomm, 12 May 2011
  5. ^ "Evolution of Mobile Wireless Communication Networks: 1G to 4G", Kumar, Liu, Sengupta, and Divya, Vol. 1, Issue 1 (December 2010), International Journal on Electronics & Communication Technology (IJECT), pp. 68-72, ISSN 2230-7109
  6. ^ "About 3GPP: The Generations of 3GPP Systems", 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), retrieved 27 February 2013
  7. ^ "Qualcomm's simulated 5G tests shows how fast real-world speeds could actually be". 2018-02-25.
  8. ^ "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012", Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Ericsson Mobility Report Archived 2012-12-02 at the Wayback Machine, Ericsson, November 2012
  10. ^ Mobile Broadband, Best Broadband Reports, December 2013
  11. ^ "Measuring digital development: Facts and figures 2019". Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  12. ^ Estimate.
  13. ^ "Total Midyear Population for the World: 1950-2050"". International Programs Center for Demographic and Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  14. ^ "Measuring digital development: Facts and figures 2019". Telecommunication Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  15. ^ Estimate
  16. ^ a b c Ericsson Mobility Report: Interim Update, Ericsson, February 2013
  17. ^ Wakchoi (2021-12-05). "Mobile Data, a Great Equaliser? The Cyber Bedouin". The Cyber Bedouin. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  18. ^ "4G WiFi for Construction Sites | Bytes Digital".
  19. ^ "Service mark: The global technology identifer". GSM Association. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  20. ^ "About 3GPP", 3GPP website, retrieved 27 February 2013
  21. ^ "What is the future of mobile broadband?". Vergelijk Mobiel Internet. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  22. ^ "IEEE Approves IEEE 802.16m - Advanced Mobile Broadband Wireless Standard". IEEE Standards Association. March 31, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  23. ^ "WiMAX Forum Overview". Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  24. ^ "About 3GPP2" Archived 2020-02-18 at the Wayback Machine, 3GPP2 website, retrieved 27 February 2013
  25. ^ "IEEE 802.20 Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA)". Working group web site. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  26. ^ "IEEE 802.20 Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA)". Official standard. IEEE Standards Association. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  27. ^ Cherry, Steven (2004). "Edholm's law of bandwidth". IEEE Spectrum. 41 (7): 58–60. doi:10.1109/MSPEC.2004.1309810. S2CID 27580722.
  28. ^ Jindal, Renuka P. (2009). "From millibits to terabits per second and beyond - over 60 years of innovation". 2009 2nd International Workshop on Electron Devices and Semiconductor Technology. pp. 1–6. doi:10.1109/EDST.2009.5166093. ISBN 978-1-4244-3831-0. S2CID 25112828.
  29. ^ Baliga, B. Jayant (2005). Silicon RF Power MOSFETS. World Scientific. ISBN 9789812561213.
  30. ^ Asif, Saad (2018). 5G Mobile Communications: Concepts and Technologies. CRC Press. pp. 128–134. ISBN 9780429881343.
  31. ^ O'Neill, A. (2008). "Asad Abidi Recognized for Work in RF-CMOS". IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society Newsletter. 13 (1): 57–58. doi:10.1109/N-SSC.2008.4785694. ISSN 1098-4232.

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