2G - wikipedia 2G For other uses, see 2G ( disambiguation ). This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( July 2011 ) 2G ( or 2 - G ) is short for second - generation cellular technology. Second - generation 2G cellular networks were commercially launched on the GSM standard in Finland by Radiolinja ( now part of Elisa Oyj ) in 1991. Three primary benefits of 2G networks over their predecessors were that phone conversations were digitally encrypted ; 2G systems were significantly more efficient on the spectrum allowing for far greater wireless penetration levels ; and 2G introduced data services for mobile, starting with SMS text messages. 2G technologies enabled the various networks to provide the services such as text messages, picture messages, and MMS ( multimedia messages ). All text messages sent over 2G are digitally encrypted, allowing for the transfer of data in such a way that only the intended receiver can receive and read it. After 2G was launched, the previous mobile wireless network systems were retroactively dubbed 1G. While radio signals on 1G networks are analog, radio signals on 2G networks are digital. Both systems use digital signaling to connect the radio towers ( which listen to the devices ) to the rest of the mobile system. 2G has been superseded by newer technologies such as 2.5 G, 2.75 G, 3G, and 4G ; however, 2G networks are still used in most parts of the world. With General Packet Radio Service ( GPRS ), 2G offers a theoretical maximum transfer speed of 50 kbit / s ( 40 kbit / s in practice ). With EDGE ( Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution ), there is a theoretical maximum transfer speed of 1 Mbit / s ( 500 kbit / s in practice ). Contents 1 2G Technologies 2 Evolution 2.1 2.5 G ( GPRS ) 2.2 2.75 G ( EDGE ) 3 Shutdown 3.1 America 3.1. 1 United States 3.2 Asian and Pacific 3.2. 1 Australia 3.2. 2 India 3.2. 3 New Zealand 3.2. 4 Singapore 3.3 Europe 3.3. 1 Netherlands 3.3. 2 Switzerland 4 See also 5 References 2G technologies 2G technologies can be divided into time division multiple access ( TDMA ) - based and code division multiple access ( CDMA ) - based standards depending on the type of multiplexing used. The main 2G standards are : GSM ( TDMA - based ), originally from Europe but used in most of the world outside North America. Over 60 GSM operators were also using CDMA2000 in the 450 MHz frequency band ( CDMA450 ) by 2010. PDC also known as JDC ( Japanese Digital Cellular ) ( TDMA based ), used exclusively in Japan iDEN ( TDMA - based ), proprietary network used by Nextel in the United States and Telus Mobility in Canada IS - 136 a.k.a. Digital AMPS or D - AMPS ( TDMA - based, commonly referred as simply ' TDMA ' in the US ), was once prevalent in the Americas, but most have migrated to GSM. Evolution 2.5 G ( GPRS ) See also : General Packet Radio Service 2.5 G ( `` second and a half generation '' ) is used to describe 2G - systems that have implemented a packet - switched domain in addition to the circuit - switched domain. It does not necessarily provide faster service because bundling of timeslots is used for circuit - switched data services ( HSCSD ) as well. The first major step in the evolution of GSM networks to 3G occurred with the introduction of General Packet Radio Service ( GPRS ). CDMA2000 networks similarly evolved through the introduction of 2.5 G. Its approach centred on the use of packet data. Up until this time all circuits had been dedicated to a given user in an approach known as circuit switched, i.e. where a complete circuit is switched for a given user. This was inefficient when a channel was only carrying data for a small percentage of the time. The new packet switched approach routed individual packets of data from the transmitter to the receiver allowing the same circuit to be used by different users. This enabled circuits to be used more efficiently and charges to be metered according to the data transferred. 2.75 G ( EDGE ) See also : Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution GPRS networks evolved to EDGE networks with the introduction of 8PSK encoding, While the symbol rate remained the same at 270.833 samples per second, each symbol carried three bits instead of one. Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution ( EDGE ), Enhanced GPRS ( EGPRS ), or IMT Single Carrier ( IMT - SC ) is a backward - compatible digital mobile phone technology that allows improved data transmission rates, as an extension on top of standard GSM. EDGE was deployed on GSM networks beginning in 2003 -- initially by AT&T in the United States. EDGE is standardized by 3GPP as part of the GSM family and it is an upgrade that provides a potential three-fold increase in capacity of GSM / GPRS networks. The 2G digital service provided very useful features, such as caller ID, call forwarding, and short messaging. Shutdown America United States Various carriers have made announcements that 2G technology in the United States is in the process of being shut down so that carriers can reclaim those radio bands and re-purpose them for newer technologies ( e.g. 4G LTE ). AT&T 's 2G GSM service was shut down in January 2017. This shutdown had a notable impact on the electronic security industry, where many 2G GSM radios were in use for alarm signal communication to central station dispatch centers. 2G GSM radios were required to be replaced by newer generation radios to avoid service outages. Verizon plans to shut down its 2G CDMA 1X network by 31 December 2019. Whereas, T - Mobile US has postponed shutdown of their 2G network until 2020. Asian and pacific Australia Telstra closed their GSM network on 1 December 2016, being the first mobile provider in Australia to switch off 2G. Optus shut down 2G in Western Australia and Northern Territory on 1 April and completed the shutdown within the rest of Australia on 1 August 2017. Vodafone plans to decommission its legacy GSM network on 31 March 2018. India Reliance Communications, a group led by Reliance ADAG, decided to shut down its entire 2G network at the end of November 2017. It is the first operator in the country to do so. New zealand 2degrees plans to shutdown its 2G network in March 2018. Singapore Singtel, M1, and StarHub ceased 2G services on 1 April 2017. Europe Netherlands T - Mobile Netherlands will shutdown 2G services by 2020. Switzerland Telecommunications in Switzerland is mainly operated by state - owned Swisscom, and the two privately held Salt and Sunrise Communications AG as these companies have a license to operate 2G. Swisscom will cease 2G services due to its `` public service requirements '' only by 1 January 2021. Sunrise Communications AG has announced plans to phase out its GSM network by the end of 2018. GSM, GPRS and EDGE will be ended by the end of 2018 in favour of expanded 4G and 4G+ coverage. See also 2G spectrum scam Cliff effect Dropout List of mobile phone generations Mobile radio telephone, also known as 0G References Jump up ^ `` Radiolinja 's History ''. 20 April 2004. Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Wi - Fi and mobile Internet ( 3G or 4G ) ''. Proximus. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017. Jump up ^ `` CDMA Worldwide ''. Archived from the original on 30 January 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2009. Jump up ^ Gryta, Thomas ( 3 August 2012 ). `` AT&T to Leave 2G Behind ''. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 26 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` AT&T 2G Sunset ''. povertymobile. 2016 - 01 - 20. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 11. Jump up ^ `` AT&T 's Donovan says 2G network in ' soft lock, ' decommissioning to begin in coming months FierceWireless ''. www.fiercewireless.com. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 11. Jump up ^ `` 2G Sunset Overview ''. Telguard. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2016. Jump up ^ Danno, Mike. `` Verizon to shut down 2G CDMA 1X network by the end of 2019 ''. FierceWireless. Retrieved 12 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` T - Mobile takes a swing at AT&T, says its 2G network will stay active through 2020 ''. SlashGear. Retrieved 26 December 2016. Jump up ^ Turner, Adam ( 4 November 2016 ). `` Budget Mobile Customers Brace for Australia 's 2G Shutdown ''. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` 2G Network Closure Update '' ( Press release ). Optus. Retrieved 6 July 2017. Jump up ^ Zemek, Jen ( 30 September 2016 ). `` Vodafone to switch off 2G network next year ''. Vodafone.com.au ( Press release ). Retrieved 14 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` RComm to Shut Down 2G Network in a Month, Will Continue with 4G Only Network Like JIO ''. Jump up ^ `` 2degrees to close down 2G access in March 2018 ''. 2degrees. Retrieved 26 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2G network to be completely shut by Apr 18 '' ( Press release ). Channel Newsasia. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017. Jump up ^ `` T - Mobile Netherlands plans GSM shutdown by 2020 ''. Jump up ^ `` Swisscom is equipping its mobile network for the future ''. Retrieved 2 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Sunrise to shut down GSM network by end - 2018 ''. Retrieved 20 June 2017. Preceded by 1st Generation ( 1G ) Mobile Telephony Generations Succeeded by 3rd Generation ( 3G ) Cellular network standards List of mobile phone generations 0G ( radio telephones ) MTS MTA - MTB - MTC - MTD IMTS AMTS OLT Autoradiopuhelin B - Netz Altai AMR 1G ( 1985 ) AMPS family AMPS ( TIA / EIA / IS - 3, ANSI / TIA / EIA - 553 ) N - AMPS ( TIA / EIA / IS - 91 ) TACS ETACS Other NMT C - 450 Hicap Mobitex DataTAC 2G ( 1992 ) GSM / 3GPP family GSM CSD HSCSD 3GPP2 family cdmaOne ( TIA / EIA / IS - 95 and ANSI - J - STD 008 ) AMPS family D - AMPS ( IS - 54 and IS - 136 ) Other CDPD iDEN PDC PHS 2G transitional ( 2.5 G, 2.75 G ) GSM / 3GPP family GPRS EDGE / EGPRS ( UWC - 136 / 136HS / TDMA - EDGE ) 3GPP2 family CDMA2000 1X ( TIA / EIA / IS - 2000 ) CDMA2000 1X Advanced Other WiDEN DECT 3G ( 2003 ) 3GPP family UMTS UTRA - FDD / W - CDMA UTRA - TDD LCR / TD - SCDMA UTRA - TDD HCR / TD - CDMA 3GPP2 family CDMA2000 1xEV - DO Release 0 ( TIA / IS - 856 ) 3G transitional ( 3.5 G, 3.75 G, 3.9 G ) 3GPP family HSPA HSDPA HSUPA HSPA+ LTE ( E-UTRA ) 3GPP2 family CDMA2000 1xEV - DO Revision A ( TIA / EIA / IS - 856 - A ) EV - DO Revision B ( TIA / EIA / IS - 856 - B ) EV - DO Revision C IEEE family Mobile WiMAX IEEE 802.16 e Flash - OFDM iBurst IEEE 802.20 4G ( 2013 ) ( IMT Advanced ) 3GPP family LTE Advanced ( E-UTRA ) LTE Advanced Pro ( 4.5 G Pro / pre-5G / 4.9 G ) IEEE family WiMAX ( IEEE 802.16 m ) WiMax 2.1 ( LTE - TDD ) 5G ( 2020 ) ( IMT - 2020 ) ( Under development ) LTE 5G - NR Related articles Cellular networks Mobile telephony History List of standards Comparison of standards Channel access methods Spectral efficiency comparison table Cellular frequencies ( Bands : GSM UMTS LTE ) Mobile broadband NGMN Alliance MIMO VoLTE Mobile phones General Features GSM services History Operating system Security Telephony airplane mode Text messaging SMS MMS Spam Tracking Web browsing HTML5 Software Apps Development Distribution Management Cloud computing Commerce Banking Marketing advertising campaigns Payments contactless donating Ticketing Content Blogging Email Gambling Gaming Health Instant messaging Learning Music News Search local Social address book Television Culture Charms Comics Dating Japanese culture Novels Ringtones silent mode Selfie Txtspk Wallpaper Devices Manufacturers 3D phone Camera phone Car phone Feature phone Projector phone Satellite phone Smartphone SIM lock Form factors Bar Flip Phablet Slider Smartwatch Smartphones Android devices rooting BlackBerry 10 iPhone iOS jailbreaking Open - source mobile phones Symbian devices Windows Phone devices Environment and health BlackBerry thumb Driving safety Electronic waste External power supply Phantom vibration syndrome Radiation and health Recycling Law Carrier IQ Use restrictions while driving Legality of recording by civilians Photography and the law Telephone tapping Texting while driving Mobile phones in prison Networking Channel capacity Frequencies Multi-band Network operator list Roaming Signal SIM ( dual SIM ) Standards comparison Tethering VoIP WAP XHTML - MP Generations 0G 1G 2G 3G adoption 3.5 G 4G 4.5 G 5G Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2G&oldid=812832904 '' Categories : Japanese inventions Mobile telecommunications Software - defined radio Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from December 2016 Articles needing additional references from July 2011 All articles needing additional references All articles with failed verification Articles with failed verification from October 2017 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from November 2017 Talk Search Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu বাংলা Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Català Čeština Eesti Español Euskara فارسی 한국어 हिन्दी Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano Basa Jawa ಕನ್ನಡ Bahasa Melayu 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk ଓଡ଼ିଆ Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча پښتو Português Română Русский Slovenčina Basa Sunda Suomi தமிழ் ไทย Türkçe Українська اردو 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 30 November 2017, at 03 : 43. 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Question: second-generation (2g) wireless networks transfer data at a rate of ____
Answer: 50 kbit/s (40 kbit/s in practice)