The mobile technology revolution: The journey from 1G to 6G

The advent of mobile technology has created a new breakthrough for humanity, changing the course of human history. Mobile technology has enabled people to communicate with each other anytime, anywhere, quickly, while also improving access to emergency services and healthcare on a global scale.

In general, mobile technology allows mobile devices to operate through mobile base stations (BTS). Unlike landline phones, mobile phones and many other wireless devices use radio waves to transmit the user's voice (or text or mobile data) to the nearest BTS, which then forwards the information to the person being communicated with.

Today, mobile phones have become an indispensable part of people's lives, bridging all distances and limitations. People can interact with each other and hear each other's voices and see each other's images directly through their smartphones.

1970s - 1980s: The first generation (1G) mobile phone using similar technology was introduced.

In 1973, the American phone manufacturer Motorola created the world's first mobile phone, the DynaTAC 8000X. This was the first actual mobile phone and it revolutionized how people communicate as we know it today. Before the DynaTAC 8000X was invented, mobile phones were very large, bulky, and only suitable for customers communicating via car phones.

Measuring 10 inches (approximately 25.4 cm) in length and weighing 2.5 pounds (approximately 1.1 kg) primarily due to its massive battery, the DynaTAC 8000X weighs 4-5 times more than a modern mobile phone. The retail price of the DynaTAC 8000X is approximately $11,000 in today's currency, and it boasts a battery life of about half an hour.

Although the DynaTAC 8000X was first unveiled to the public in 1973, it wasn't officially released to the market until 1983. Despite its commercial success, it was quickly superseded by smaller and more affordable mobile phones.

Despite its relatively short lifespan, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X played a crucial role in the development of mobile technology. It paved the way for the smaller, more affordable mobile phones we use today and it changed the way we communicate forever.

These first mobile phones ran on what we now call first-generation mobile (1G), or first-generation mobile technology. 1G technology allowed users to make mobile phone calls with low audio quality, no support for digital data, and low security. 1G mobile network speeds weren't actually measured by data transmission speeds, but rather by the ability to transmit voice between mobile phones.

1990s: Second-generation (2G) mobile phones were introduced.

The second generation of mobile networks (2G) emerged in early 1991, transitioning from analog to digital technology. 2G offered better call quality, enhanced security, and enabled SMS messaging. This also marked the explosion of mobile devices, making them an indispensable part of daily life.

As a revolutionary and completely different generation of mobile communication, 2G networks used digital signals instead of the analog signals of 1G and were first implemented in Finland. Therefore, it's not surprising that most 2G phones used worldwide at that time were the "legendary" Nokia phones, which dominated the market for a long time until they were completely replaced by smartphones.

2G networks offered mobile users three advanced benefits for a long time: digital data encryption, a wider connection range than 1G, and, most notably, the introduction of SMS text messaging.

During this period, people began to see mobile phones that were small enough to fit in the palm of their hand, with diverse designs, etc. To this day, 2G networks are still used as a communication method to serve the calling and texting needs of some users, especially the elderly in rural and mountainous areas.

2G network data speeds typically range from 9.6 Kbps to 14.4 Kbps. Currently, many countries around the world have discontinued 2G networks in favor of newer, more efficient mobile technologies.

In Vietnam, according to the roadmap of the Ministry of Information and Communications, from September 16th onwards, network operators will stop providing services to devices that only support the GSM standard (2G only). This means that subscribers using 2G technology will no longer be provided with services, except for providing services to subscriber devices connected to the GSM network for the purpose of transmitting and receiving data between devices (M2M) or providing services in the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagoes and the DK offshore platforms. By September 15th, 2026, the 2G network will be completely shut down.

Early 2000s: Third-generation (3G) mobile technology emerged.

3G represents the third generation of mobile communication, far more advanced than its predecessors. It allows mobile users to transmit both voice and non-voice data.

3G offered higher speeds and greater capacity to support more calls. Base stations could handle more calls without becoming overloaded, meaning better signal quality. The 3G mobile network was a breakthrough, providing high-speed internet connectivity on phones and opening the door to a host of new applications such as accessing email, watching videos, streaming music, and sharing photos.

However, many telecommunications providers worldwide have faced financial difficulties due to the large sums of money required to bid for 3G spectrum, which has delayed the commercial rollout of 3G in many countries except Japan and South Korea, where telecommunications infrastructure development is a top priority.

Japan was also the first country to widely commercialize 3G, pioneered by the mobile network operator NTT DoCoMo. By 2005, approximately 40% of subscribers in Japan were 3G subscribers, and 2G networks gradually faded into obscurity in the Japanese technology landscape.

3G provides a minimum data speed of 384 Kbps while moving and up to 2 Mbps while stationary. 3G networks allow for faster internet access and support multimedia services such as video calls, streaming television, and app downloads.

However, many countries around the world have now stopped using this technology due to limitations in data transmission speed. The Ministry of Information and Communications has also set a roadmap for Vietnam to switch off 3G mobile networks starting in September 2028.

Late 2000s: The advent of 4G mobile technology, which many of us use today.

Fourth-generation mobile networks (4G) officially launched in Sweden in late 2009, offering significantly faster data transmission speeds compared to 3G. 4G enables users to experience better online services such as high-quality video streaming, video calls, and smooth online gaming, supporting minimum speeds of 100 Mbps while moving and up to 1 Gbps while stationary.

4G brings another exciting improvement: low-latency video streaming. This is considered a significant leap forward in mobile communications, enabling high-quality video calls on mobile devices.

Furthermore, 4G networks have enabled people to work remotely more effectively, with the ability to access data and applications from anywhere with a 4G signal. This has boosted the popularity of social media applications, helping people connect, share information, and maintain relationships online.

Furthermore, 4G provides a foundation for the robust development of mobile e-commerce, enabling consumers to shop online and conduct transactions via mobile phones; supports the development of mobile health applications, helping people monitor their health and utilize remote healthcare services; and supports distance education through rapid access to online educational resources.

2019 marked a new turning point in mobile communications with the launch of the first 5G network.

5G, or fifth-generation mobile communication network, is currently one of the most popular technology trends. It is also the newest mobile communication network being commercially deployed in many countries around the world.

5G networks were officially launched commercially in the South Korean market in April 2019. According to the latest edition of Ericsson's Mobility Report, published in June 2024, the number of global 5G subscribers reached 1.7 billion by the end of the first quarter of 2024 and is projected to become the dominant technology by 2029 with 5.6 billion subscribers.

Many countries around the world are currently investing in 5G to create opportunities for people, businesses, and society. According to data from the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), as of the end of March 2024, 585 operators in 175 countries/regions were investing in 5G networks, through trials, planning, or actual deployment. Of these, 153 operators in 71 countries/regions had deployed commercial 5G services compatible with the 3GPP standard through public mobile networks or fixed wireless access.

It must be said that, with theoretical speeds of up to 10 Gbps (gigabits per second), 5G technology is and will provide users with ultra-fast service experiences, dozens of times faster than current 4G network speeds; extremely low latency (around 1 millisecond) and providing a large number of connections, capable of connecting up to 1 million devices per kilometer.²With its outstanding advantages, 5G enables artificial intelligence (AI) to receive and process more information simultaneously. This will help improve automated production systems with higher accuracy and productivity.

5G mobile technology supports the connection of billions of devices as the world enters the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), with data stored on cloud computing infrastructure, reducing usage costs and supporting rapid digital transformation. The outstanding features of 5G are expected to accelerate the digital transformation process, leading to the formation of digital government and digital economy models.

6G mobile network: Expected to launch in 2030

Typically, each new generation of mobile networks is deployed every 10 years. If the development of 6G mobile networks follows this cycle, we could experience the world's first commercial 6G networks around 2030.

Although 5G connectivity is not yet available globally, even in developed countries, planning and research for the next generation of mobile technology, 6G, have already been undertaken by numerous countries and international organizations.

Some forecasts for the 6G network vision anticipate the completion of 6G standards and earlier commercialization in countries that have already deployed 5G networks early, such as South Korea, China, and the United States. Humans and machines will be the primary users of 6G networks, characterized by the provision of advanced services such as augmented reality, digital twins, etc.

The 6G technology market is expected to facilitate major advancements in imaging, presence technology, and precise location recognition. Combined with AI technology, 6G computing infrastructure will be able to determine the best place to perform computations, including making decisions about data storage, processing, and sharing.

Although the technical requirements for the sixth-generation mobile communication system (IMT-2030/6G) are not yet fully finalized, some studies suggest that theoretical downlink data speeds could reach 1 Tbps (Terabits per second) (1 Tbps equals 1,000 Gbps), with latency measured in microseconds. If 6G approaches these figures in practice, it will enable a much wider and more efficient range of use compared to 5G networks.

In summary, mobile technology has played and continues to play a vital role in modern life, connecting people and changing the way we work, learn, entertain, and interact with the world around us. With its continuous development, mobile technology promises to bring even more wonders in the future.