3G, 3rd generation. The latest mobile phone technology fad in India. According to the techno numbers, it allows one to have broadband internet speeds (256kBps) on the go, on a mobile phone.
Considering the current IT revolution in India and upcoming e-governance initiatives, fast and mobile internet can really do wonders. Apart from this increased data usage, growth in revenues due to greater usage form the good part.
But lets peel the onion. What I said above, or what companies and marketing gurus say is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg or in our case the inedible onion peel.
Peel it off. What do you see ?
Layer 1 : Increased power demand by the service providers
With almost all mobile service providers rolling out 3G, it goes without saying that they will require an altogether different set of equipment than the current 2G. This implies that this new machinery to churn the ever greatest KBs will need more juice. Judging by the speeds expect power consumption to increase approx 15-20%. This means more power demand i.e. more burning of fuel to heat more water to produce more steam to produce more torque to produce more rpms of the turbine. More carbon emissions, quite obvious.
Layer 2 : Increased mobile phone dependency mostly unnecessary
TV on the move ? Gaming on the move ? Not to sound Luddite, but give that mind a rest ! It has been proven clinically that brain grows faster when it is given some rest to assimilate information and thoughts. That's why the boffin in your R&D lab is all by himself and thinking !
Wasn't the calling functionality of the mobile a distraction enough ? On the move broadband is certainly going to show some interesting changes.
Faster social degradation through unwanted internet content will be on steroids now.
Layer 3 : Data security
More bandwidth means more space to do things. Simply put, malicious intent can now be used on the go. Expect large organizations like banks, MNCs, consultancies and governments to install additional security infrastructure. More power consumption again? You bet !
Although this may lead to increased ease of corruption and malpractice reporting.
Layer 4 : Privacy invasion
Spam video calls, anyone? Or for a more macabre situation, a cross connected video call ?
These concerns which rose due to increased mobile 2G usage, will be equally applicable to a 3G user too.
Consider a hacked in camera of the 3G mobile phone. Tapping and surveillance taken to a whole new level. Big Brother just got more kit !
Burrrrppp ! onion gone !
What is needed is not just self regulation on the part of mobile authorities but also some form of a regulatory framework. Current policies do not take into account the unique challenges that high speed mobile data transmission poses.
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