Perhaps when listening to UMTS it is not familiar to you as it is very well known as a 3G network , so later we will show what it is. In addition, we will explain what it is for, what are its advantages and disadvantages, knowing these aspects in detail help us understand mobile connections.
Components of a UMTS structure
In order to obtain all that this mobile network system offers, it must have the following structure components.
- A fast access network, for its acronym UTRAN.
- Core network.
- EU mobile terminals.
Of course we will not concentrate on the electronic explanation of this structure, it is only data to understand what the communication achieves.
Index( )
- Components of a UMTS structure
- What is a UMTS network
- How the 3G network works
- Advantages and disadvantages of the 3G network
- What factors affect 2G and 3G coverage
What is a UMTS network
It is a universal mobile communications technology system, known by its acronym in English UMTS, and it replaced the GSM network due to the advances. Its characteristics allow many consumers to obtain access to the network, since two network structures are combined, while one transmits the other manages.
This system provides its users with various advanced services, even the network service appears on the screen of your mobile with other symbols. This network system has given society the opportunity to advance in the development of communications, even if you are at a distance.
In the same way, this network is used mostly by mobiles belonging to the third generation . According to experts, this is the successor network of the GRPS, however at the time of its creation it was designed exclusively for the use of mobile devices but it has been in constant evolution and currently allows access even from other devices. And as if that were not enough, it is known for its main characteristics such as: the multimedia capabilities that this network encompasses, its speed when it comes to internet, and quality voice transmission.
This system also turns out to be very complete since it uses all the existing services in technology, that is, with it you can use any type of terminal. Yes, as anyone read it. According to studies, its transfer speed is around 144 Kbps. Its system is quite global since it allows access on terrestrial and satellite networks. Its services are quite symmetrical and asymmetrical, so it provides great flexibility when offering its services.
How the 3G network works
This digital system helps us to maintain that communication daily without limits , like those we had many years ago with other systems. Here are the functions that UMTS offers us with a structure that allows voice communication and multimedia at the same time.
- Practical use of its services, which makes it adapt to the massive consumption of it.
- Low costor fee for packages.
- Ease of connection: By means of several interfaces and complying with the data transport procedures, it is possible to maintain a quality of simultaneous connection.
- Support up to 2 Mbps.
- Connect to the Internet.
- Combination of GSM data transmission and high speed circuits.
- Multimedia data service.
- Virtual payment facility.
We can say that the UMTS network system gave an innovative efficiency above others , exponentially expanding its services with excellent capacity and coverage.
A very important point to highlight is that this network works totally different from the 2G network . And it is that in the 3G network the data is sent in quite tiny data packets that on their way are structured again to be delivered correctly to the receiver. This allows a greater amount of data to be sent on this network and to be delivered more quickly and efficiently. And not only that, but the 3G network allows you to be connected to more than one base network at the same time.
This network also consumes very low power and its energy consumption is almost similar to the 2G network. It is also capable of automatically lowering its power to offer its user a better quality of service. The reason for this is because this network uses the frequency spectrum more efficiently because it uses a much higher bandwidth.
Advantages and disadvantages of the 3G network
In this section you will see what makes UMTS or 3G network superior, compared to previous systems, you will see the great technological advantages that it brought.
- It’s dynamic: A layered service that enables rapid, centralized deployment.
- Higher speed than 2G.
- Good voice transmission.
- Quality and trust.
- Download packages, known as mobile data that you can activate and deactivate to save consumption.
- Secure network authentication.
- Broadband.
- Use the best quality images available in 3G.
- Access any internet site with excellent coverage.
- You can access your email inboxfrom your mobile
- By taking a good photo, you not only save it on your mobile, but you can also share it.
- Download videos, as well as send the ones they make with your mobile, through the internet.
- When presenting any problem, it has remote technical support.
Although this network is still useful, technology advances rapidly bringing with it several disadvantages for the UMTS network, here are some of them.
- The cost of the structure together with its maintenance generates a high cost.
- It is limited in terms of the development of another improved network system, such as 4G which is different from 3G .
- Less coverage less likely to move data.
- Not available in all places, since there are areas there are no signal repeater antennas.
- The devices that generally use this network system are a bit expensive.
- Not having data consumption precision.
- Not all device models that use this system work the same with the different packages.
- As technology has advanced, it is not compatible with newer deviceson the market.
There are mobile devices that have a communication network such as 4G or 5G and that this UMTS system has left a little behind . However, her contribution to society was enormous, thanks to her we managed to connect to the internet from our mobiles.
What factors affect 2G and 3G coverage
The coverage, believe it or not, is affected by multiple factors , even if the maximum coverage icon appears, its speed and efficiency can commonly be affected. One of the factors that usually influences it is the distance. Yes, the distance in which we are with respect to the antenna can completely modify the signal and the speed. The closer we are, the greater its effectiveness, the shorter the distance, the less speed and coverage. Your phone can also influence, as you know, not all mobiles contain the same capacity and the same characteristics. Each one is in charge of having protocols totally different from its competition, and this influences the amount of reception that it can cover.
Obstacles also influence , this has to do directly with where we are. Details such as if it is inside a house or in a garage, on a mountain or on the beach, the signal coverage will be affected notoriously. A plus point for the 2G network is that it is in closed places and it usually works better than its competition.
Likewise, breakdowns or malfunctions in the antenna affect the signal in our device. This can lead to a lower reception or in severe cases to lose coverage completely. It should be noted that networks are also affected by the type of band with which it is transmitted. For example, at very low frequencies such as 800 MHz, the transmission is usually very good, its strength is the coverage within buildings. Now if we talk about the highest frequency such as 2600MHz it obviously contains more capacity but its speed is much lower.
And believe it or not, the number of users who are using the network is anchored to its operation. The more users are connected or trying to connect at the same time their speed is lower. That is why always remember, when buying a new device, guarantee its range capacity before these networks and when connecting, take into account all these factors that can influence the speed of the network.
