A Comparison of 3G to 768KB Speed on the Internet
Since the advent of the 3G family of wireless data technologies, Internet access by cellphones and other mobile devices has become increasingly attainable and useful. At the same time, as early 3G systems began debuting, ADSL and other high-speed broadband Internet technologies for hardwired connections began spreading rapidly. With speeds originally starting at 256 and 768kbps, the majority of hardwired connections today can deliver multiple megabits per second of speed. 3G speeds now surpass early hardwired broadband, and can rival many present-day ADSL connections.
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Early Data Transmission
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As the first commercial electronic computers debuted in the 1960s and 70s, the primary means of data transmission was by analog "acoustic couplers," and some modems, that sent data over telephone lines at speeds from about 300 to 1200bps.
In the 1980s and 90s, smaller solid-state modems based on integrated circuits ramped up those early speeds to become more than 10 times faster, going to 14.4kbps, then 28.8kbps and finally to 56kbps. At that point, communications equipment companies were approaching the limits of dial-up modem technology and ran into the wall of FCC regulation. New solutions needed to be found.
Advent of Broadband
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Customers' desire for faster data speeds motivated companies to develop new technology. In the late 1990s, affordable equipment to access the Internet at higher speeds, without the need to dial out with a modem over a conventional telephone line, began its widespread debut. Using cable TV lines, or copper phone lines with new types of always-on modems attached, Internet access speed jumped from its earlier mainstream maximum of 56kbps to 512 and 768kbps, and then higher.
For comparison, downloading a 1 MB photo takes about 2½ minutes on a 56kbps modem, but only about 11 seconds over a 768kbps broadband connection.
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Advent of 3G
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"3G" represented the third major generation of cellular data transmission technology. The first 3G networks were lit up in the early 2000s, and the standard quickly swept the globe.
Because 3G encompasses a family of different technologies, the exact parameters and speed standards aren't sharply defined. However, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) defines 3G services as providing a minimum speed of 2mbps when subscribers are stationary or walking slowly, and 384 kbps when moving at higher speeds, such as in a car.
Comparing Basic 3G Speeds
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384 kbps is exactly half the speed of a 768 kbps connection, so the slowest 3G links should allow you to download a 1 MB photo in a little under 25 seconds. A 2 mbps link, however, is almost six times faster than that, getting that 1 MB photo to your computer in about 4 seconds.
Real-World 3G Flavors
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3G speeds can now far exceed the minimum guidelines. Companies like T-Mobile and AT&T in the U.S. use 3G HSDPA technology that can deliver over 7 mbps--almost 10 times faster than a 768 kbps connection.
Sprint and Verizon use 3G CDMA2000 and EvDO equipment that can deliver over 2 to 3 mbps.
Real-world 3G speeds can also be slower than the ITU standard, depending on factors like radio transmission conditions and the number of subscribers in a given area.
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- Photo Credit Cellular Communications Tower image by ryasick from Fotolia.com
