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3G, 2.5G and 2G Wireless Network Protocol Stack Comparison
Although there are many similarities between 3G, 2.5G and 2G wireless networks (and many components are shared or connected through interoperable functions), there are also many differences between them.
The following table compares the essential protocol stacks involved in the core network, the radio access portion, and other areas of the three network categories.
| Feature | 3G | 2.5G | 2G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Network | 3G MSC/VLR (with added interworking and transcoding), GMSC, HLR/AuC/EIR, 3G-SGSN, GGSN, CGF GMM/SM,MM,CM,BSSAP, RANAP,GTP,SCCP, MTP3B, M3UA, SCTP, Q.2630.1 (NNI), TCAP, MAP, ISUP, MTP3, MTP2, MTP1, Q.2140, SSCOP ATM, IP transport | MSC/VLR, GMSC, SGSN, GGSN, HLR/AuC/EIR, CGF GMM/SM/SMS, MM, CM, GTP, SNDCP,NS, FR, LLC, BSSGP, BSSAP, BSSAP+, SCCP, TCAP, MAP, ISUP, MTP3, MTP2, MTP1 TDM, Frame Relay transport | MSC/VLR, GMSC, HLR/AuC/EIR MM, CM, BSSAP, SCCP, ISUP,TCAP, MAP, MTP3, MTP2, MTP1 TDM transport |
| Radio Access | Node B, RNC, MS W-CDMA, CDMA2000, IWC-136 GMM/SM, MAC, RLC, PDCP,RRC,Q.2630.1(UNI+ NNI),NBAP, RNSAP, RANAP, SCCP, MTP3B, M3UA, SCTP, GTP-U, Q.2140, Q.2130, SSCOP, CIP | BTS, BSC, MS TDMA, CDMA, EDGE MAC, RLC, GMM/SM/SMS, LLC, SNDCP, BSSGP, NS, FR,RR, BSSAP, SCCP, MTP3, MTP2, MTP1 | BTS, BSC, MS FDMA, TDMA, CDMA MM, CM, RR, LAPDm, LAPD, BSSAP, SCCP, MTP3, MTP2, MTP1 |
| Handsets | New type of terminal Multiple modes Voice, data and video terminals WAP, multimedia management | New type of terminal Dual mode TDMA and CDMA Voice and data terminals WAP, no multimedia support | Voice only terminals |
| Databases | Enhanced HLR, VLR, EIR, AuC | HLR, VLR, EIR, AuC | HLR, VLR, EIR, AuC |
| Data Rates | Up to 2Mbps | Up to 57.6 Kbps (HSCSD) Up to 115Kbps (GPRS) Up to 384 Kbps (EDGE) | Up to 9.6 Kbps |
| Applications | Internet, multimedia | SMS, Internet | Advanced voice, Short Message Service (SMS) |
| Roaming | Global | Restricted, not global | Restricted, not global |
| Compatibility | Compatible to 2G, 2G+ and Bluetooth | Not compatible to 3G | Not compatible to 3G |
About Continuous Computing
Continuous Computing provides integrated systems and services that enable telecom equipment manufacturers to rapidly deploy Next Generation Networks (NGN). Over 150 customers worldwide benefit from the company's unique blend of customized professional services, Trillium protocol software, AdvancedTCA and CompactPCI systems, and BladeCenter hardware. Continuous Computing helps customers reduce platform lifecycle costs, optimize data delivery, and accelerate deployments of NGN, 3G/4G Wireless, and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) infrastructure. The company is ISO-9001 and CMMI certified and based in San Diego with development centers in China and India. For more information, visit www.ccpu.com.
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