Enhancements over 2G

The introduction of 2.5G has many enhancements over the present 2G systems
that are in place. The specific advantages of each 2.5G system are
directly related to the market and services that the wireless operator current
serves and wants to serve in the near future. The enhancements lie primarily
in the use and delivery of packet data services with speeds exceeding
the existing 14.4K barrier with 2G systems.
Table 5-1 illustrates the relative advantages that each of the 2.5G platforms
has over its fundamental underlying technology platform.
Table 5-1 again is not meant to be all-inclusive but rather is a guide to
illustrate what the new technology platform offers. The reference used for
the 2G to 2.5 platform is not a prerequisite. For example, the deployment of
GPRS can be enabled with an underlay system using IS-136 or even
CDMA, provided the spectrum is available and the required infrastructure
is deployed properly.