During the early 1980s, the first generation, consisting of 850 megahertz (MHz) band cellular systems, was launched nationwide. The 1G portable cell phones were boxy in shape and operated much like a small AM or FM radio station. The 850 MHz frequency (i.e., low band) allows the radio signal from the antenna on the tower to travel beyond five miles, depending on topography and line-of-sight conditions between the towers. Customers using a cell phone knew when they traveled outside of the service area because they would hear a static sound on the phone similar to the sound of a weak AM or FM radio station. The signal either faded or remained crackling until the subscriber was within range of another facility.
Originally, the 850 MHz band only supported an analog radio signal. By 2010, 1G had been phased out of network design in most urban markets, but still serves as a platform of initial coverage in remote and undeveloped areas – including large areas identified in Study Area B of Mesa County.
The 1990s marked the deployment of second generation technologies, consisting of the 1,900 MHz band (i.e., high band) Personal Communication Systems (PCS) and Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR) commonly referred to as Nextel, that operated in the 800 MHz band. Nextel and 2G cellular wireless technology was developed primarily to allow for simultaneous phone calls over a digital signal, on both 850 and 1,900 MHz, that were audibly clearer than those made with an analog signal. The handsets were much smaller than the 1G cellular phones and the first handsets provided low speed data services such as paging and limited text messaging through the handheld unit. However, 2G had some network functionality trade-offs. The technology offered a static free signal but with a higher rate of disconnects or dropped calls. The network solution to reduce the number and frequency of dropped calls required significantly more base stations and towers for several reasons: First, the propagation signal in the high band does not travel as far as the low band signal. Thus, the number of required facilities almost tripled just to provide basic 2G coverage in the same geographic area as a 1G service area. Second, the industry was reluctant to share tower space with a competitor and many service providers resisted co-locating on the same tower. And third, subscriber base and usage grew rapidly so the industry needed more sites to improve network coverage demands by their customers.
Third generation (3G) wireless was launched in the early 2000s and offered improved mobile download speeds and increased penetration of signal strength for indoor environments. This technology also permits multimedia messaging (MMS) which increased the character limit on text messaging, allowed photo transfer and provided elementary video conferencing.
Fourth generation (4G) wireless handsets were introduced in 2010 and offered a wide variety of new tools and services that provided access to email, news, music and videos. Newer technologies incorporated better cameras for still photos and video, global positioning services (GPS), Internet commerce, and millions of downloadable applications for just about any use.
Advancing technologies in 2015 resulted in new smartphones and tablets that support video streaming and remote access to Internet-based cloud data storage both of which require large amounts of bandwidth. Service providers continue to upgrade existing networks by: 1) adding additional base stations and towers to improve and increase network capacity; 2) purchasing additional licenses in the 700, 1,700 – 1,800, and 2,100 – 2,400 MHz frequencies; 3) upgrading equipment at the towers and base stations and adding more antennas and feed lines; and 4) adding remote radio heads (RRH) on towers to increase signal strength and capacity.
One of 4Gs greatest advancements is the transition to Long Term Evolution (LTE) services as the global cellular network operating standard. Network operating platforms nationally and internationally were fractured during the implementation of 3G networks because of the adoption of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) as competing operating platforms. The universal LTE and LTE-Advanced platforms will promote efficient use of spectrum, faster download speeds and continued use of smart devices across the United States and throughout the world. The need for additional 4G infrastructure is significant nationwide and the continued deployment of new towers and base stations will be necessary as the industry transitions to fifth generation (5G) networks sometime around 2019-2020.
In summary, 1G and 2G provided the initial launch of personal wireless service. Third generation improved data transfer with the addition of MMS, 4G increased speeds and capacity and 5G deployments will focus on implementation of full broadband service. Fourth generation network technology (the platform for smartphones) emphasized improving network capacity and maximizing the use of bandwidth for faster and more efficient transfers of data. Fifth generation standards are in the design phase and will be implemented when gigahertz spectrum is available and backhaul systems utilizing fiber optic networks are available. The improved network speeds and bandwidth of 5G are anticipated to be sufficient to compete directly with computer networks with average Internet download speeds at or above the 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) range. Fifth and sixth generation (5G and 6G) advancements over the next 30 years will allow all forms of communications and entertainment to be streamed resulting in the eventual elimination of digital subscriber lines (DSL) and cable/satellite TV; and will provide the underlying communication technology that will allow vehicles to drive themselves. Like all previous generations, 5G and 6G will require more wireless infrastructure.
(Ord. 4703, 6-1-16)
