The basics of mobile network infrastructure
In the realm of telecommunication there are innumerous ways and mediums through which effective communication and information exchange may be achieved. The nature of the data that is to be transmitted may also vary enormously and thus in order to accommodate these variations, there are diverse telecommunication networks that range from fixed networks to mobile networks, data and voice networks and/or analog and digital networks.
As compared to fixed networks, in which user’s equipment is connected to the telecom network using some type of physical medium, mobile network infrastructure varies in the last mile connection to the user. In mobile networks, the communication is typically achieved via radio transmission techniques and technology. As the service is mostly based on a wireless technology, the user has a huge advantage of added and improved mobility in his local area and/or wider area. However, this extend of mobility depends greatly on the nature of the mobile network.
For long distance communication, a commonly employed strategy is to use wireless communication embedded or as a part of a fixed network in order to extend and enhance the communication services to the user. An added advantage of this technique is that the need to install cumbersome physical wires or bulky cables is eliminated. As assuring as it may sound, setting up a successful and effective mobile network infrastructure is no easy task as it involves overcoming a large number of problems which may arise due to signal degradation, noise and other factors. With the ever-growing trend towards smaller, sleeker and sophisticated equipments, the chief problem being faced by telecom engineers is the size of the radio equipment that the user is expected to carry around.
Analog Mobile Networks:
When mobile phone networks were first introduced in the late 1970s, they comprised of a system that was based on analog communication and an inferior quality of service. As analog networks did not support data transmission, the user had to buy modems in order to achieve some form of data transfer. Initially this was limited to send faxes and similar data types. Moreover the modems were expensive and the data transfer rate was quite slow. The initial mobile phones were often bulky and had poor battery life
Digital Mobile Networks:
During the 1980s, development of the second generation of communication technology began. These Second-generation (2G) mobile phone systems were based on digital means of communication and hence the quality of service generally improved. Many advances were made in all aspects of mobile phone technology. The handsets became considerably smaller, lighter weight and thus easier to carry. Furthermore the battery life also improved and mobile communication became more reliable.