EDGE or Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution, is a digital mobile phone technology, which uses the existing GSM networks to deliver higher speeds of data transfer than GSM itself and GPRS as well. While GPRS achieved data transfer rates of 56 to 114 kbps, EDGE can support up to 177.6 kbps.

EDGE is also known as:-

• Enhanced GPRS or EGPRS


• Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution

EDGE over GPRS

EDGE technology offers data transmission speeds almost 3 times that of GPRS. Moreover, it offers better spectral efficiency, higher capacity and better performance than GPRS too. This technology is said to be 4 times more efficient than GPRS.

Implementing EDGE and Usage

EDGE is easily implemented on the any GSM network which has GPRS deployed on it. The core GSM network remains the same. There is no hardware or software upgrade needed for the core network. Base station subsystems need some software upgrade to be done on them for implementing EDGE. Hence upgrading a GSM/GPRS network to support EDGE is simple. Even the mobile phones must be made EDGE compatible.

EDGE uses sophisticated modulation and coding techniques, to achieve higher data transmission rates. This technology is basically used by mobile phones to access the internet, view/download online videos etc. Mobile phones with EDGE capability are also tethered to laptops or computers for enabling internet access on them.

EDGE - 3G or 2.5G?

The ITU (International Telecommunications Union) considers EDGE to be a 3G technology. However, EDGE is slower than some of the other 3G protocols like HSDPA. Therefore, it is considered by many to be a bridge between GPRS and 3G technologies. With GSM being 2G, GPRS being 2.5G, EDGE is also referred to as 2.75G technology sometimes.

Mobile communication technology has evolved and reached great hieghts, with 3G, 3.5G etc. Yet, in many places where there is no full fledged 3G network or where the 3G signal strength is low, EDGE is used for internet access on mobile phones. Hence EDGE complements the 3G standards.

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