On 16 March, more than 27 years ago, the GSM mobile network was launched in Lithuania. It was the beginning of the digital mobile era in Lithuania. GSM technology is the backbone of many modern mobile technologies, and mobile data speeds have increased more than 3,000-fold in the last few decades.
the first official conversation using GSM technology between the then Minister of Transport and Communications and Informatics, Gintautas Žintelis, and Juozas Kazickas, Chairman of Omnitel
On 16 March 1995, the first official conversation using GSM technology took place between the then Minister of Transport and Communications and Informatics, Gintautas Žintelis, and the Chairman of Omnitel, Juozo Kazickas. The mobile phone market has undergone radical changes over the last 27 years. Instead of paying for a few minutes of talk time, people can now have unlimited talk time and use smartphones that are just as powerful as PCs. Mobile services have become an integral part of everyone's life.
In 2002, more people in Lithuania used mobile phones than fixed-line phones. By 2005, the majority of the population owned mobile phones.
The world's first GSM call was made on 27 March 1991 by the Finnish operator Radiolinja. The first commercial GSM call was made on 1 July 1991.
GSM technology was also designed to transmit data, but at only 9.6 Kbps. At that speed, you could send an average smartphone photo in half an hour. But in the last 20 years, mobile network speeds have increased more than 3 000 times, so imagine if similar advances were made in other areas.
The 2G standard was further developed and by the end of 2001, 3G (UMTS) was introduced, enabling data transmission at up to 384 Kbps. Current 3G stations allow speeds of up to 21 Mbps.
The 3G standard was further developed and by the end of 2001, 4G (LTE) was available, enabling data transmission at speeds of up to 1 Gbps. Current 4G stations allow speeds of up to 300 Mbps. Video calls did not take off then, but people's appetite for mobile internet is growing daily.
4G connectivity in 2009 allowed operators not only to offer home mobile internet plans, but also to improve other services. For example, 4G technology has made it possible to connect more than one device on a single plan (multi-device connectivity). So with 4G connectivity at home, we could connect to the internet not only with our phones, but also with our PCs, TVs and even games consoles.
5G technology is the latest and most advanced mobile telecommunications technology. It offers many opportunities, including faster data speeds, reduced latency and improved network reliability. This makes it ideal for applications such as virtual reality, autonomous vehicles and smart cities. 5G can also enable new services and business models. For example, it can be used to provide real-time telehealth or facilitate new types of entertainment and social interaction.
In summary, mobile technology has come a long way in the last 27 years. From very low speeds to the latest and most advanced 5G technology, it has revolutionised the way we communicate and the way we use our devices. It is interesting to think about all the new possibilities that 5G will bring, such as higher data speeds, lower latency and greater network reliability. We look forward to seeing what comes next!