2G3G4G5G

2G3G4G5G is a shorthand for the main generations of mobile wireless technology: 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G. The progression reflects major changes in radio access, data capacity, and latency, expanding from voice and messaging toward mobile broadband and new applications for consumers and industry.

2G, rolled out in the 1990s, digitalized voice and introduced SMS. It standardized digital interfaces such as GSM and, later, data modes like GPRS and EDGE, enabling modest mobile data rates alongside voice.

3G, deployed in the 2000s, increased data capacity with UMTS and CDMA2000, delivering from hundreds of kilobits to several megabits per second. It enabled mobile Internet, email, and multimedia services beyond basic voice.

4G, led by LTE and LTE-Advanced, provides higher peak data rates and lower latency within an all-IP network. It supports mobile broadband, video streaming, and rich application services, and serves as the platform for many cloud-based and connected devices.

5G, using New Radio (NR), targets very high data rates, ultra-low latency, and dense device connectivity. Its features include network slicing, edge computing, and support for emerging use cases in mobility, manufacturing, and smart infrastructure, with deployments in sub-6 GHz and mmWave bands.

Deployments vary by region. Many operators continue expanding 5G while retiring earlier 2G and 3G networks where feasible. 4G remains widespread as the backbone of current mobile services, with 5G complementing it for advanced capabilities and new business models.