Third Generation Mobile Communications System (3G)

• The fundamental purpose of the Third Generation Mobile Communications System is to provide a globally integrated communication system consisting of different, today incompatible, network technologies that are deployed around the world. All those second generation communications systems and mobile terminals will, eventually, evolve towards a global standard, which is called IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications).
• IMT-2000 specifies the technologies, standards and protocols to be used worldwide by 3G technologies. IMT-2000 is an initiative of the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) to provide wireless access to the global telecommunication infrastructure through both satellite and terrestrial systems, serving fixed and mobile users in public and private networks.
• In Europe, the third generation mobile system is called Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). It is currently under specification in ETSI and it is intended to be completed by the end of 1999. UMTS will deliver low-cost, high-capacity mobile communications offering data rates up to 2 Mbit/s with global roaming and other advanced capabilities. UMTS will deliver pictures, graphics, video communications and other wide-band information as well as voice and data, directly to people who can be on the move. WCDMA radio access technology is used in UMTS. UMTS licenses have already been awarded in several European countries.
• In Japan, the standardisation organisations ARIB (radio) and TTC (network) are preparing third generation standards. The target for the first networks is in 2001. In the United States, there are three second generation standards (IS-136, IS-95 and GSM 1900) widely deployed. They will all evolve towards IMT-2000. [15]
• The most extensive co-operation project will be the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). This co-operation between international standards bodies will make the third generation mobile telephony happen. The founding members are ARIB and TTC of Japan, ETSI of Europe, T1 (ANSI) of the U.S. and TTA of Korea. The work of these organisations will be promulgated globally by the ITU as IMT-2000. UMTS is one "family member" of IMT-2000.
• There are many problems in developing an integrated global communications system, not only technical issues but also various political dilemmas. There will be different systems in use also in the future but the development of mobile terminal technology will partly solve this problem.