ments of 3G networks, and enhanced 3G service, referred to as 3.5G, is beginning to make an appearance. While we argue the lifetime of 3G, new generations, such as 4G and 5G, are already in development. At any point in time, new technologies are being developed and operating in labs that will emerge commercially within five to seven years. Between the time of the vision and the time of the implementa- tion, enough changes will have occurred to render the solution somewhat out- dated, yet the formalization of the new and improved version will still be too far off to be viable. (The visions of 4G and 5G are discussed later in this chapter.) 3G is designed for high-speed multimedia data and voice (see Figure 14.6). Its goals include high-quality audio and video and advanced global roaming, which means being able to go anywhere and automatically be handed off to any wireless system available. 3G is defined by the ITU under the International Mobile Tele- communications 2000 (IMT-2000) global framework. The main goals of IMT-2000 include achieving equivalency between wireline and wireless, support for messag- ing, Internet access, high-speed multimedia, improved throughput, QoS support, improved security, improved voice quality, and improved battery life. The IMT-2000 framework encompasses support for fixed applications and a broad range of mobil- ity scenarios, from picocells serving in-building and local users to global coverage Global Suburban Urban In-building Macrocell Microcell Picocell Figure 14.6 3G network coverage 3G: Moving Toward Broadband Wireless via satellites. It calls for global deployment with seamless roaming, support for position-location services (including emergencies, navigation, and location-specific services), and support for technological evolution. IMT-2000 was formerly known as the Future Public Land Mobile Telecom- munications System (FPLMTS). In 1992, the World Administrative Radio Con- ference (WARC) allocated 1,885MHz to 2,025MHz and 2,110MHz to 2,200MHz for IMT-2000, including 1,980MHz 