- 1G – 1G stands for first generation. Very early mobile phones used first generation signals.
- 2G – 2G stands for second generation. The UK went digital with second generation signals in the 1990s, and we still use 2G for calls and texts.
- 3G – 3G stands for third generation. It’s much faster than 2G, so it’s perfect for browsing, tweeting and checking Facebook.
- 4G – 4G stands for fourth generation. It hasn’t yet been rolled out in the UK yet, but it will mean super-fast connections
- antenna – Mobile phone networks are made up of masts, and there’s an antenna at the top of each mast. This is the part that sends and receives signals.
- EDGE – This is 2.75G. It gave us download speeds up to three times faster than GPRS.
- exchange – An exchange is where the network’s traffic is sent to be routed to the right device.
- gigahertz (GHz) – Measurement of frequency. One gigahertz is equal to one thousand megahertz.
- GPRS – This is 2.5G. It brought the internet to our phones by chopping data into bite-sized pieces.
- hertz – Measurement of frequency. One hertz is equal to one cycle per second.
- HSPA – This is 3.5G. It sped things up and made it easy to use apps and download music and videos on your phone.
- LTE – LTE stands for long term evolution, and is another name for 4G.
- macrocell – A macrocell is a powerful antenna that provides a large area of coverage as part of a mobile phone network. Macrocells are usually located on tall masts on top of buildings or in fields.
- megahertz (MHz) – Measurement of frequency. One megahertz is equal to one million hertz.
- microcell – A microcell is an antenna that provides an area of coverage as part of a mobile phone network. Microcells are usually located in busy areas, inside things like road signs, flagpoles and streetlights.
- nanocell – A nanocell is an antenna that provides a small area of coverage as part of a mobile phone network. Nanocells are usually located inside buildings like airports, offices and train stations.
- Ofcom – The independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries.
- transmitter – A transmitter works with the antenna on a mast to produce radio waves.
