# 3G

> term used to represent the 3rd generation of mobile telecommunications technology

**Wikidata**: [Q79692](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q79692)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/3g

## Summary  
3G is the term used to denote the third generation of mobile telecommunications technology. It is classified as both a mobile phone generation and a mobile phone network standard, succeeding the 2.75G era (EDGE/EGPRS) and preceding 3.5G.

## Key Facts  
- **Generation**: Represents the 3rd generation of mobile telecommunications (instance of *mobile phone generation* and *mobile phone network standard*).  
- **Predecessor**: Follows the 2.75G generation, which introduced EDGE/EGPRS on GSM networks beginning in 2003.  
- **Successor**: Succeeded by the 3.5G generation.  
- **Aliases**: Also known as “3rd Generation”, “3rd‑Generation”, “3G”, and the Chinese term “三代”.  
- **Identifiers**: Lexical ID = “3G”; YSO ID = 25238; EuroVoc ID = c_18cee978; Freebase ID = “/m/01pqj_”; NE.SE ID = “3g”.  
- **Media**: Representative image – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/PC_modem_3G_HSPA_DSC_0084.JPG; schematic – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/3g.PNG.  
- **Online Presence**: Wikipedia title “3G”; 73 Wikidata sitelinks; Wikipedia language editions include af, ar, arz, az, be, be_x_old, bg, bn, bs, ca, etc.  
- **Topic Classification**: Main category – Category:3G (Wikidata reference Q8447).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What does “3G” stand for in mobile communications?  
A: “3G” designates the third generation of mobile telecommunications technology, marking an evolution beyond earlier 2G and 2.75G standards.  

### Q: Which technologies came before and after 3G?  
A: 3G follows the 2.75G generation (EDGE/EGPRS on GSM networks) and is succeeded by the 3.5G generation.  

### Q: Where can I find more information about 3G online?  
A: The Wikipedia article titled “3G” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G) and the Wikidata entry (73 sitelinks) provide extensive details, along with related pages on Stack Exchange, Quora, and Zhihu.  

## Why It Matters  
3G marks a pivotal step in the evolution of mobile communications, moving the industry from basic voice and low‑speed data services toward richer, higher‑bandwidth applications. By succeeding the 2.75G era, which introduced modest data enhancements on GSM networks, 3G laid the groundwork for more sophisticated mobile internet use, multimedia streaming, and real‑time communication. Its classification as both a generation and a network standard underscores its role as a unifying framework that guided device manufacturers, network operators, and standards bodies worldwide. Understanding 3G provides context for the rapid development of subsequent generations (3.5G, 4G, 5G) and the broader trajectory of mobile technology.  

## Notable For  
- Being the officially recognized third generation of mobile telecom standards.  
- Directly succeeding the 2.75G (EDGE/EGPRS) era that began in 2003.  
- Serving as the foundation for the subsequent 3.5G generation.  
- Holding multiple standardized identifiers across international vocabularies (Yso, EuroVoc, Freebase, NE.SE).  
- Maintaining a broad multilingual presence with 73 Wikidata sitelinks and numerous Wikipedia language editions.  

## Body  

### Definition and Classification  
- 3G is defined as the term representing the third generation of mobile telecommunications technology.  
- It is an **instance of** both *mobile phone generation* and *mobile phone network standard* in Wikidata.  

### Historical Context  
- **Predecessor**: 2.75G, which introduced Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) and Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) on GSM networks starting in 2003, initially deployed by AT&T in the United States.  
- **Successor**: 3.5G, which builds upon the capabilities introduced by 3G.  

### Naming and Identifiers  
| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Lexical ID | 3G |
| YSO ID | 25238 |
| EuroVoc ID | c_18cee978 |
| Freebase ID | /m/01pqj_ |
| NE.SE ID | 3g |
| Elhuyar ZTH ID | 096077 |
| Wikimedia Commons Category | 3G |
| Wikipedia Title | 3G |
| Topic’s Main Category | Category:3G |
| UK Parliament Thesaurus ID | 425431 (label “3G”) |
| Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID | topic/third-generation-data-network (label “3G data network”) |
| Treccani’s Lessico del XXI Secolo ID | 3g (date 2013) |
| Analysis & Policy Observatory Term ID | 52611 |

### Media Resources  
- **Image**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/PC_modem_3G_HSPA_DSC_0084.JPG (source: Q3181422).  
- **Schematic**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/3g.PNG.  

### Online References and Community Links  
- **Wikipedia Languages**: af, ar, arz, az, be, be_x_old, bg, bn, bs, ca, … (multiple editions).  
- **Stack Exchange Tag**: https://stackoverflow.com/tags/3g.  
- **Quora Topic**: 3G‑wireless‑communication.  
- **Zhihu Topic ID**: 19553882 (label “3G”).  
- **Fandom Article**: apple:3G (English).  

### Relationship to GSM  
- 3G follows the **Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)**, the second‑generation digital cellular standard, establishing a continuity of mobile standards from 2G through 3G.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "3G",
  "description": "Term used to represent the 3rd generation of mobile telecommunications technology",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q???",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G"
  ],
  "additionalType": "MobilePhoneGeneration"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. YSO-Wikidata mapping project. 2023