STUDY OF EVOLUTION OF MOBILE OPERATORS IN SUDAN FROM 2G TO 3G

Abstract

Today, mobile communications play a central role in the voice/data network arena. With the deployment of mass scale 3G just around the corner, new directions are already being researched. In this paper we present the evolution of mobile communications through all its generations. From the initial speech vocation to an IP-based data network, several steps were made. From the analog voice centric first generation to the digital second generation, the goal was to enhance the voice experience of a user, by improving the quality of the communication while using more efficiently the installed capacity. At the same time the enhanced mobility provided by seamless handover and the additional data communications capacity (although very small) advanced and opened the doors to future developments. Some of the developments were brought by generation 2.5 namely by GPRS, which improved data communications by supporting IP in the GSM infrastructure. With the third generation the goal changed from voice-centric to data-centric. Moreover total mobility became an objective to pursuit. In this generation it is possible to combine voice, multimedia applications and mobility in a never experienced manner. However, the global mobility, while an important objective, was never really reached. At the same time new applications demand more bandwidth and lower costs. The newcomer fourth-generation tries to address this problem by integrating all different wireless technologies. In spite of all the evolving technologies the final success of new mobile generations will be dictated by the new services and contents made available to users. These new applications must meet user expectations, and give added value over existing offers.