What's the difference between Wi-Fi and mobile Internet (2G, 3G, 3G+ or 4G)?

What's the difference between Wi-Fi and mobile Internet (2G, 3G, 3G+ or 4G)? 

Surfing via Wi-Fi is cheaper than surfing via mobile Internet, but Wi-Fi coverage is limited to a building or a district.

Domestic Wi-Fi network (when you surf wirelessly at home)Wi-Fi uses a local wireless network to transfer information.

Its coverage is therefore limited to a building (pub, airport, etc.) or a public space. Access can be private or public, paying or free of charge, open for Internet or not.

To surf on your phone, you must have a Wi-Fi device.

To surf on your computer, you must have a Wi-Fi modem or a computer with a built-in Wi-Fi modem.

Mobile Internet (when you surf on the 4G network)Mobile Internet (when you surf on the 2G, 3G or 3G+ network)Mobile Internet (2G, 3G, 3G+ or 4G) uses a mobile telephony network to send and receive data.

With your SIM card, you access the Internet everywhere in Belgium and abroad.

To surf on your phone, you must have a 2G, 3G or 4G device.

To surf on your computer, you must have an external USB modem or a computer with a built-in mobile modem.

In all cases: choose an Internet price plan or option to pay less.

Your device will automatically connect to the best mobile network available. It may happen that you switch from one network to the other.

With Proximus you can use the following mobile Internet networks: 2G (GPRS or EDGE), 3G (UMTS), 3G+ (HSDPA or HSPA+) and 4G (LTE).

With 2G

With GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), you have a theoretical transfer speed of max. 50 Kbps.

With EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution), you have a theoretical transfer speed of max. 250 Kbps.

With 3G or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), you have a theoretical transfer speed of max. 384 Kbps.

With 3G+

With HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), you have a theoretical transfer speed of max. 7.2 Mbps.

With HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access +), you have a theoretical transfer speed of max. 42 Mbps.

With 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution), you have a theoretical transfer speed of max. 129 Mbps.

Difference between 2G & 3G...

What is the difference between 2G and 3G ?

2G and 3G (2nd and 3rd generation mobile telecommunications technologies) refer to different generations of cellular phone standards. 2G networks (GSM, CDMAOne, D-AMPS) are the first digital cellular systems launched early 1990s. 3G networks (UMTS FDD and TDD, CDMA2000 1x EVDO, CDMA2000 3x, TD-SCDMA, Arib WCDMA, EDGE, IMT-2000 DECT) are newer cellular networks that came to the U.S. around 2003 with data rates of 384kbit/s up to 2-3 Mbits/s.

Generally, 2G offers lower data rates, and started as a voice-oriented service, while 3G offers considerably higher data rates and data oriented services.

2G uses different switching techniques for voice and data, while 3G uses single type of switching for any data. 2G is cirquit-switched (each user occupies a frequency) while 3G is packet-switched (similar to Internet data traffic). Because of that, 2G is slower, more prone to interference, and does not scale as well as 3G. 3G offers higher spectrum efficiency, asymetric uplink and downlink traffic, multiplexing of services on a single connection, variable bit rate on demand, etc.

Current 2G and 3G networks are both used for cellular communications. While 2G networks focus primarily on voice communications, text messaging and simple web browsing, 3G devices offer near-broadband speeds for web browsing and multimedia integration.

Features

The significant difference between 2G and 3G networks is the faster data speeds offered by 3G. For voice use and text messaging, the differences between a 2G and 3G phone are minimal.

Benefits

Although 2G phones are less expensive, they cannot offer fast web browsing and file transfers in the way a 3G phone can. The 3G standard allows data, pictures and videos to be uploaded and downloaded quickly.

Considerations

Not all areas have 3G networks available. In the event that a 3G network is not available, 3G phones will connect to whatever network is available, even if it is a slower 2G network.

Identification

A 3G phone can be identified by looking at its screen. Next to the signal strength, look for a 3G or EV logo. Either one indicates you are on a 3G network.

Potential

Both 2G and 3G networks allow for easy use of mobile data services. While 3G speeds are faster, both options provide mobile Internet connections wherever there is a cellular signal.

Second Generation (2G) technology was launched in the year 1991 in Finland. It is based on the technology known as global system for mobile communication or in short we can say GSM. This technology enabled various networks to provide services like text messages, picture messages and MMS. In this technology all text messages are digitally encrypted due to which only the intended receiver receives message. These digital signals consume less battery power, so it helps in saving the battery of mobiles.

The technologies used in 2G are either TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) which divides signal into different time slots or CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) which allocates a special code to each user so as to communicate over a multiplex physical channel.

3G technology generally refers to the standard of accessibility and speed of mobile devices. It was first used in Japan in the year 2001. The standards of the technology were set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This technology enables use of various services like GPS (Global Positioning System), mobile television and video conferencing. It not only enables them to be used worldwide, but also provides with better bandwidth and increased speed.

This technology is much more flexible as it can support 5 major radio technologies that operate under CDMA, TDMA and FDMA. CDMA accounts for IMT-DS (direct speed), IMT-MC (multi carrier). TDMA holds for IMT-TC (time code), IMT-SC (single carrier). This technology is also comfortable to work with 2G technologies. The main aim of this technology is to allow much better coverage and growth with minimum investment.