In mobile communications, frequently, the terms GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA and LTE appear. These terms refer to different standards of data transfer and are noticeable for the mobile phone user mainly in a different data transfer rate. In this table, I have I contrasted the different standards:
| Shortcut | Name | Download | Upload | Display |
| GSM | Global System for Mobile Communications | 14.4 Kbit/s | 14.4 Kbit/s | 2G |
| GPRS | General Packet Radio Service | 53.6 Kbit/s | 26.8 Kbit/s | G |
| EDGE | Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution | 217.6 Kbit/s | 108.8 Kbit/s | E |
| UMTS | Universal Mobile Telelcommunication Service | 384 Kbit/s | 384 Kbit/s | 3G |
| HSPA | High Speed Packed Access | 7.2 Mbit/s | 1.4 Mbit/s | H |
| HSPA+ | Evolved High Speed Packed Access | 42 Mbit/s | 10.8 Mbit/s | H+ |
| LTE | Long Term Evolution | 100 Mbit/s | 50 Mbit/s | 4G |
In the "Name" column, you will find the long name for each abbreviation. Under "Download" and "Upload", the maximum download and upload speeds that can be reached with the standards are listed. Under "Display", you can see how the standard is usually displayed in the status bar of the cell phone, when it is connected to the appropriate network.
Note: The standard HSPA (High Speed Packed Access) is divided into High Speed Downlink Packed Access (HSDPA) for downloading and High Speed Uplink Packed Access (HSUPA) for uploading data.Development of standards and networks\
At the beginning of the digital mobile phone age, there was only the GSM network as a replacement for analog systems. According to this, GSM is also called 2G, the second generation. Gradually, new, better and fast systems developed. GPRS and EDGE also use the GSM network, the higher speeds of EDGE is the result of an improved technology. The third generation is the UMTS network (3G). Again, on the 3G network, the improvements HSPA (H) and HSPA+ (H+) are based, allowing faster transfer rates in the 3G network. Finally, the fourth generation named LTE (4G) was presented, which again brings a significant increase in transfer rates.
In theory, in the individual standards higher rates are possible technically, in practice, often not even the values from the table are reached, since there are rarely existing ideal conditions.
Note: The standard HSPA (High Speed Packed Access) is divided into High Speed Downlink Packed Access (HSDPA) for downloading and High Speed Uplink Packed Access (HSUPA) for uploading data.Development of standards and networks\
At the beginning of the digital mobile phone age, there was only the GSM network as a replacement for analog systems. According to this, GSM is also called 2G, the second generation. Gradually, new, better and fast systems developed. GPRS and EDGE also use the GSM network, the higher speeds of EDGE is the result of an improved technology. The third generation is the UMTS network (3G). Again, on the 3G network, the improvements HSPA (H) and HSPA+ (H+) are based, allowing faster transfer rates in the 3G network. Finally, the fourth generation named LTE (4G) was presented, which again brings a significant increase in transfer rates.
In theory, in the individual standards higher rates are possible technically, in practice, often not even the values from the table are reached, since there are rarely existing ideal conditions.
GPRS(General Packet Radio Service)
GPRS is a packet-based* wireless communication service. It is a 2G technology network that support a download speed of up to 114Kbps.
Limitation of GPRS is that GPRS data cannot be sent while a voice call is in progress.
- Generally, you will only see this connection speed in the middle of nowhere (between Grahamstown and Hogsback for example) and just about every device has support for this connection.
EDGE(Enhanced Data GSM Evolution)
GPRS and EDGE are both 2G technology but EDGE is significantly faster with a download speed of up to 384Kbps. EDGE is sometimes called a 2.5G network as it also has some characteristics of a 3G network but it doesn't satisfy the specification.
- Generally, you will only see this connection speed in the middle of nowhere (between Grahamstown and Hogsback for example) and just about every device has support for this connection.
3G
Introduction of 3G network made video calling and seamless streaming of video possible, with download speed of up to 3.1Mbps.
- This connection is the stock standard for most modern devices and should be available in throughout established towns and cities.
HSDPA(High-Speed Down-link Packet Access)
It is based on the 3G network and an enhancement to 3G. Thus has a faster speed, download speed can be up to 14Mbps. HSDPA is sometimes called 3.5G.
- HSDPA is generally present where 3G is present - almost all mid range to high end devices support these speeds.
HSPA+(Evolved High-Speed Packet Access)
HSPA+ is an evolution HSPA(HSDPA&HSUPA). It is a 4G technology that allows download at a rate of up to 168Mbps.
- HSDPA+ is generally present where 3G is present - many mid range to high end devices support these speeds.
4G LTE(Long Term Evolution)
LTE is a 4G communication standard that supports HD video streaming, download speed as high as 299.6Mbps.
- LTE is all the rage nowadays with networks rolling it out left right and center, there are high end devices that support LTE on the way if not already available - the only downside is that the technology isnt quite here yet for it to be a true selling point, unless of course your are future proofing yourself.
GPRS is a packet-based* wireless communication service. It is a 2G technology network that support a download speed of up to 114Kbps.
Limitation of GPRS is that GPRS data cannot be sent while a voice call is in progress.
- Generally, you will only see this connection speed in the middle of nowhere (between Grahamstown and Hogsback for example) and just about every device has support for this connection.
EDGE(Enhanced Data GSM Evolution)
GPRS and EDGE are both 2G technology but EDGE is significantly faster with a download speed of up to 384Kbps. EDGE is sometimes called a 2.5G network as it also has some characteristics of a 3G network but it doesn't satisfy the specification.
- Generally, you will only see this connection speed in the middle of nowhere (between Grahamstown and Hogsback for example) and just about every device has support for this connection.
3G
Introduction of 3G network made video calling and seamless streaming of video possible, with download speed of up to 3.1Mbps.
- This connection is the stock standard for most modern devices and should be available in throughout established towns and cities.
HSDPA(High-Speed Down-link Packet Access)
It is based on the 3G network and an enhancement to 3G. Thus has a faster speed, download speed can be up to 14Mbps. HSDPA is sometimes called 3.5G.
- HSDPA is generally present where 3G is present - almost all mid range to high end devices support these speeds.
HSPA+(Evolved High-Speed Packet Access)
HSPA+ is an evolution HSPA(HSDPA&HSUPA). It is a 4G technology that allows download at a rate of up to 168Mbps.
- HSDPA+ is generally present where 3G is present - many mid range to high end devices support these speeds.
4G LTE(Long Term Evolution)
LTE is a 4G communication standard that supports HD video streaming, download speed as high as 299.6Mbps.
- LTE is all the rage nowadays with networks rolling it out left right and center, there are high end devices that support LTE on the way if not already available - the only downside is that the technology isnt quite here yet for it to be a true selling point, unless of course your are future proofing yourself.
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