Home » Full Forms » Computer Acronyms/Abbreviations

What is the full form of 2G?

Full form of 2G: Here, we are going to learn what does 2G stands for? 2G – which is an abbreviation of "Second Generation" in Computer Acronyms/Abbreviations, etc. By Anushree Goswami Last updated : March 30, 2024

2G: Second Generation

2G is an abbreviation of the "Second-Generation Cellular Network".

In 1991, 2G cellular networks were commercially introduced on the GSM standard in Finland by Radiolinja, which at the present, is a component of Elisa Oyj.

Advantages of 2G Networks

Three most significant advantages of 2G networks over their antecedents were that:

• The conversations happen on phone were using digital technology converted into codes.
• Extensively highly well-organized use of the radio frequency spectrum allowing a large number of users as per frequency band.
• Initiation of data services for mobile at the beginning with SMS text messages.

Second Generation (2G) Overview

2G technologies allowed a variety of networks to offer and make available services such as text messages, picture messages, and MMS (multimedia messages). The entire text messages sent over 2G are using digital technology converted into codes, enabling the transmission of data in such a way that only the anticipated or deliberate receiver can collect and read it.

Second Generation (2G) History

After 2G was introduced; the earlier mobile wireless network systems were retroactively dubbed 1G. At the same time as radio signals on 1G networks are based on analog, radio signals on 2G networks are based on digital. Both the systems of 1G and 2G make use of digital signaling to connect the radio towers (which listen to the devices) to the rest of the mobile system.

2G puts forward a theoretical highest transfer speed of 40 kbit/s with General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). There is a theoretical highest transfer speed of 384 kbit/s with EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution).

The most widespread 2G technology was the time division multiple access (TDMA)-based GSM, formerly from Europe but used in the majority of the world externally out of North America. By 2010, more than 60 GSM operators were also using CDMA2000 in the 450 MHz frequency band (CDMA450).

2G Evolution

1. 2.5G (GPRS)
   1. 2.5G ("second and a half generation") is used to illustrate 2G-systems that have put into operation a packet-switched domain as well as to the circuit-switched domain.
   2. It doesn't essentially make available more rapid service for the reason that the packaging of timeslots is used for circuit-switched data services (HSCSD) as well.
2. 2.75G (EDGE)
   1. With the launch of 8PSK encoding, GPRS networks evolved and developed to EDGE networks.
   2. Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS), or IMT Single Carrier (IMT-SC) is a backward-compatible digital mobile phone technology that enables enhanced data transmission rates, as an expansion on top of customary GSM.

Reference: 2G Network