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Understanding Mobile Internet Connectivity

Mobile devices connect to the internet in two main ways - via cellular networks or WiFi. Cellular networks use radio frequencies and cell towers to transmit data packets between mobile devices and the internet. WiFi connects devices to a local wireless network that is connected to the internet. The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) allows mobile devices to access websites formatted for smaller screens and lower bandwidth. As technology advanced, 3G networks provided faster mobile broadband internet access to devices.

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147 views6 pages

Understanding Mobile Internet Connectivity

Mobile devices connect to the internet in two main ways - via cellular networks or WiFi. Cellular networks use radio frequencies and cell towers to transmit data packets between mobile devices and the internet. WiFi connects devices to a local wireless network that is connected to the internet. The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) allows mobile devices to access websites formatted for smaller screens and lower bandwidth. As technology advanced, 3G networks provided faster mobile broadband internet access to devices.

Uploaded by

Biruk Birhanu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

How Internet Works on Mobile Devices

October 2, 2014 By Ashutosh Bhatt

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In today’s age of connectivity, smartphones and tablets are becoming more of a

necessity rather than a luxury. Whether it is not to miss important mails, being updated

with the news or finding directions when lost – connecting to the Internet anytime and

anywhere is becoming an integral part of our lives. It’s now possible to get internet

access in any location as long as your phone gets a good signal from the cellular

network. You can also use public Wi-Fi hotspots to connect to the Internet through a

shared connection. So how exactly does the Internet, which was made for computers,

work on your mobile phone?

First, let’s see what Mobile Internet is. In simple terms, Mobile Internet is a smaller

Internet scaled down to fit the dimensions of a web browser on a mobile phone. The

mobile phone network is an example of a cellular network. A cellular network has a

cluster of geographic locations together known as a ‘cell’ which connect to the Internet

through satellites. Each cell has a transmitting tower at its centre through which

information is passed to and from via digital radio waves.

Connecting to the Internet

There are usually two ways to connect to the internet through your mobile phone – Via a

cellular telephone service provider or by using standard Wi-Fi. A Wi-Fi enabled device
lets you surf the Web at free Wi-Fi hotspots, which is helpful when the phone network

connection isn’t that strong. Through a cellular service provider, the phone connects to

the Internet through data transfer the same way a PC does, but with a wireless link. We

can access the same Web applications just like in our PCs if we use a Wireless

Application Protocol (WAP)-enabled cell phone. WAP is the universal standard for

wireless communications and applications.

For operating mobile phone networks, Global System for Mobile Communications

(GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) are the most commonly deployed.

GSM and CDMA use different algorithms which allow multiple mobile phone users to

share the same digital radio frequency without causing interfering for each other. Cell

phones have an in-built antenna which is used to send packets of digital information

back and forth with cell-phone towers via radio waves. Mobile phones connect to a cell

tower in the area, and instead of connecting to another phone it connects to the Internet

and can fetch or retrieve data.


The voice and data channels of cell phones are separated for maximum efficiency –

Mobile Voice goes in one channel and IP or SMS signalling over Mobile Internet in

another. The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network provides a gateway to the

internet through different frequency channels for uploading and downloading.  

Now, let’s see what goes behind the transfer of data between a wireless device and the

Internet. The main component is Radio frequency (RF) energy which can be transmitted

throughout a building passing through walls and other objects. This RF energy is

transmitted to carry the information between your phone and the Internet. A Modem

gets the information onto and off the RF carrier by modulation and demodulation. The

information through the RF carrier is sent in packets which have a source and

destination address, very similar to the postal delivery service.

A router directs each packet to its destination and also provides a wireless access point

to the Internet. A Wireless Access Point enables sharing an Internet connection by

letting several computers wirelessly share Internet access through a single connection. 

The Internet Service Provider administers an Internet access point, for example a

cellular radio tower, which may need to be accessible over long distances.

Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) for Mobile Networks

Different computer networks are linked through a common Internet protocol that lets

them all speak the same language. To accomplish the same for mobile networks, we

use WAP. The need for WAP comes from low data transfer rates of mobile phones,

inferior resolution of a mobile phone display as well as interoperability issues.

The mobile internet mainly utilises lightweight pages written in Extensible Hypertext

Markup Language (XHTML) or Wireless Markup Language (WML) to deliver content to


mobile devices. A markup language is used to add predefined tags or information to

content which informs the device receiving the content what to do with it. WAP also

allows the use of standard Internet protocols for smooth functioning of the Internet on

various platforms.

When using a WAP-enabled device for Internet access, the device sends out radio

waves searching for a connection with the service provider. Once connection is made, a

request is sent to a gateway server using WAP. This server retrieves the required

information from the website in HTTP (standard Internet protocol) form. The gateway

server converts the HTTP data to WML as it is compatible with the mobile web format.

The converted WML data is then sent to the WAP client on the device with the mobile

Internet version of the required Webpage. It is then passed to the web browser which

acts as an interface between the mobile Internet and the user.


The WAP protocol stack determines the handshake between the gateway server and

the WAP client. It also keeps data flow smooth, checks data integrity, authentication and

encryption as well as adaptability to different network providers.

3G Mobile Broadband

With technological advances third-generation (3G) cell phone technology, also known

as Mobile Broadband has evolved. It brings with it near broadband data speeds, with

video conferencing and GPS connectivity. A 3G network is one of the fastest mobile

phone networks available with data transmission rate having around 144

kilobits/second. The SIM card used for accessing the broadband network works using

the 3G standards like EDGE, CDMA, EV-DO etc.  The SIM card is powered by a USB

modem and searches for the mobile signal. The connection manager software helps to

establish a connection between the modem and a transmitting tower. After the sync is

established, the data travels through the mobile signals in an encrypted format and

reaches the tower. From the cell tower it reaches the internet cloud and fetches data.

Mobile Broadband is one of the secured ways of data transmission as it works using a

single IP address.

Wi-Fi

Nowadays, free Wi-Fi is commonly available in a lot of public places such as airports,

cafes, college campuses etc. Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 standard) enabled devices get

connected to the Internet through a wired Access Point which requires telephone lines

or Internet cables to reach Internet routers. The access point is basically a Wi-Fi

network setup to allow guest access to the Internet. A user has more control over Wi-Fi
as it accesses an extension of a wired Local Area Network (LAN). The LAN usually

works over a small distance and might have a cable or radio link connecting the access

point to an ISP through routers. Wi-Fi operates at different frequency than 3G and is

less expensive.

 SMS-Short message Service


 SMS allows for text messages of 160 characters (letters, numbers and symbols) in length. Or for
other alphabets, such as Chinese or Arabic, the maximum message size is limited to just 70
characters

Common questions

Powered by AI

In mobile internet connectivity, the process of modulation and demodulation (performed by a modem) involves converting digital data into radio frequency (RF) signals and vice versa. Modulation involves attaching data onto the RF carrier for transmission, while demodulation involves extracting the data from the RF signals received. This enables data transfer between a mobile device and the Internet by efficiently using RF as the medium .

The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) plays a critical role in mobile internet connectivity by enabling mobile devices to communicate over diverse network environments. WAP addresses issues like low data transfer rates and inferior display resolutions. It involves a WAP-enabled device sending radio wave requests to the service provider, which are then routed to a gateway server using WAP. The server retrieves information in HTTP form and converts it to Wireless Markup Language (WML), compatible with mobile web formats, before sending it back to the mobile device’s browser .

Wi-Fi is considered less expensive compared to 3G networks because it operates on IEEE 802.11 standards, relying on local access points rather than extensive cellular infrastructure. Wi-Fi connects through an extension of a wired LAN, which requires less investment than cellular towers and thus results in lower costs. However, its operational limitations include a shorter range confined to the LAN's coverage area and dependency on the availability of wired infrastructure for the access point, which limits mobility compared to cellular networks .

WML benefits the mobile browsing experience by being lightweight and specifically optimized for the constraints of mobile devices, such as limited display size and lower processing power. It allows for faster loading times and decreased data consumption compared to conventional web languages, which are often designed for more robust desktop environments. Thus, it enhances usability and efficiency for mobile users .

RF energy is fundamental in transmitting data within cellular networks as it carries digital information over radio waves. RF energy can penetrate physical barriers, like walls, enabling the transmission of signals to and from devices even when obstacles are present. This allows users to receive mobile internet connectivity indoors and in various environments without significant signal degradation .

Cellular networks commonly use Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) to allow multiple users to share the same radio frequency without interference. GSM and CDMA utilize different algorithms to manage the frequency spectrum efficiently and assign specific code sequences to users, enabling simultaneous use of the frequency by multiple users without overlapping .

3G mobile broadband technologies enhance data transmission and connectivity by providing near broadband speeds, thereby enabling functionalities like video conferencing and GPS connectivity. The technology supports faster data transfer rates, around 144 kilobits/second, and uses standards such as EDGE, CDMA, and EV-DO. A SIM card powered by a USB modem helps establish a connection through a transmitting tower, transmitting data securely in encrypted format, making it highly effective for mobile internet use .

Packet switching technology, utilized in GPRS, contributes to effective mobile internet communication by breaking data into packets that can be sent independently over the network. Each packet contains essential information such as source and destination addresses, enabling them to take the most efficient route to the destination. This ensures bandwidth is used optimally and allows for continuous data flow without the need for a dedicated path, enhancing both speed and reliability in mobile communications .

GPRS, distinguished as a 2.5G technology, bridges the gap between 2G and 3G standards. While it enhances the basic SMS and call functions of 2G by enabling packet-switched data capabilities for mobile internet, it lacks the high-speed data support characteristic of 3G standards. 3G networks provide significantly higher data rate capabilities, supporting broadband applications, video calls, and advanced multimedia services, making them vastly superior for mobile internet applications .

WAP addresses interoperability challenges by using standardized protocols that enable seamless communication across different mobile network technologies and device types. This standardization permits devices with varying capabilities to access the same internet services, thus enhancing user experience by providing universal access to web content and applications without compatibility issues. As a result, end-users benefit from a smooth, consistent internet experience across platforms and devices .

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