How to Use Mobile Data
Welcome to the GPRSHelp web site. Here you will find information about how to use mobile data - either on GPRS (the original GSM network mobile data service) or HSPA (the 3G mobile network equivalent).
Over the last few years the mobile phone networks have evolved from providing basic voice services to a small number of users, to providing true "mobile Internet Access" at high speed. They now have the capacity to accommodate many more users at very much higher data speeds.
The network technology has evolved rapidly since GSM was launched in the 1990s
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GSM |
1990 - the start of the digital revolution - providing basic Voice + Text services. |
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GPRS |
An upgrade to the GSM network, launched around the year 2000 it has "always on" packet data with speeds roughly half that of a dial-up phone connected modem - just about ok for basic web browsing but great for any non time sensitive data such as email. |
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3G - HSPA |
An upgrade to GPRS, 3G services were launched in 2004. They provide much faster mobile data - comparable with broadband with speeds often up to 5-10MBs though still suffers from packet delays making it a bit slow for web browsing. |
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LTE |
2011 Will provide faster data than 3G but the key noticeable benefit will be that the all IP architecture has a low latency making web browsing much faster. |
When 3G networks were launched they struggled to find sufficient data users to justify their hug cost. Data was priced too high and devices were not good enough to make use of it. As the networks have matured they have benefited from the advances in device technology and software design - making connected devices such as Iphones become commonplace, their great usability means that unlike previous smart-phones customer use them fully meaning they have a huge appetite for mobile data. Finally 3G is paying off as data requirements skyrocket and the mobile networks look to the future as they can finally forecast a point in the next few years when the networks will be full to capacity.
What next? 3G upgrades are now approaching the limit of their theoretical maximum speed at around 14M bps and a new technology called LTE is being planned for the future (though some networks see WIMAX as an alternate way forward) - this will allow future fixed and mobile devices to benefit from much greater speeds and capacity providing decent services for maybe the next ten years.