Overview of EDGE/EGPS Technology- Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution

Introduction to EDGE

EDGE stands for Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution. EDGE is most talked about technology in mobile communication technologies in recent times and it turn out to be the evolution of most widely used GSM technology. EDGE technology facilitates better data transmission rates with improved spectrum efficiency and the best part of EDGE is capability of supporting new applications and improved mobile communication capabilities. EDGE can also be known as extended version of GPRS therefore it is also called EGPRS.

EDGE is way to achieve better data rates on GSM networks. EGDE is add on to GPRS network and can not work stand alone. It works with new modulation techniques and new channel coding that is used for both Packet switch and circuit switch voice and data networks. Higher throughput and data rates can be achieved by adding new modulation and coding channels to already installed GPRS system

EDGE Technology

EDGE is enhanced technology for 2G, 2.5 generation systems, GSM and GPRS networks. It makes deployment of EDGE technology that much easier for mobile companies. It does not require any up gradation in hardware, software or any changes in GSM network.  EDGE supported transceiver are required to be installed, base station system are also required to be upgrade to support EDGE. But this is only required when mobile carriers are operating on older GSM version hardware, which is not the case with most of the operators around the world, there for EDGE can be enabled by activation of optional feature of GSM software. About 90% of mobile operator companies support EDGE through out the world.

EDGE and GRPS technologies have similarities in it, these two technologies have same symbol rate, although modulation bit rates are different. EDGE technology can deliver three times faster bit rate ratio comparing to GPRS in given time, this is how EDGE transmit at better rate. GPRS can transfer data at rates of 115 kbps theoretically and up to 160 kbps on physical layer, where as EDGE/EGRPS can transfer up to 384 kbps on physical layer and 473.6 kbps theoretically. Latest modulation and error tolerant transmission methodologies with help of mechanism of improved link adaption have made rates of EGPRS/EDGE possible. This has enabled improved spectrum efficiency and usability of modern applications like Wireless internet, emailing, file transferring and video calling.

EDGE/EGPRS modulation and coding scheme (MCS)

EDGE is three to four times better and efficient then GPRS technology. GPRS acquires four coding schemes while EDGE posses nine Modulation and Coding Schemes.

EDGE Evolution Technology

Now there is improved EDGE technology also available and that is EDGE Evolution. It is improved form of EDGE in many ways. By lowering transmission time interval by 50% that is from 20 ms to 10 ms hence manages to reduce latencies. With the help of dual carriers and reduced latency rate down to 800 ms, higher bit rates are achieved which is up to 1Mbits. Improve error correction is achieved by higher symbol rate, higher order modulation (32Qam and 16QAM rather them 8-PSK) and turbo codes. Dual antennas are used to improve signal quality and bit rate spectrum efficiency. EDGE Evolution will take some time to be deployed as software upgrades, it will work with already installed base stations, and any hardware updates will not be required. EDGE Evolution will provide mobile users mobile internet connections as good as DSL and speed up to 500Kbits.

1. Advantages of EDGE
   
   

• The good and practical aspect of implementing Edge technology is its adaptability to the existing system like GPRS, HSCSD (high speed circuit switched data) and specifications; it does not require new systems to be developed for deploying it.

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