| Name | Generation | Based On/Extension Of | Standard By | Switch Method | Access Method | Developed For | Used For | Maximum Data Rate | Realistic Data Rate | Timespan of Usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSM | 2G | - | ETSI/3GPP | Circuit/Packet | TDMA/FDMA | Public mobile | Voice, SMS, basic data | 9.6 kbps | 9.6 kbps | 1991-ongoing |
| IS-95 | 2G | - | TIA/EIA | Circuit | CDMA | Public mobile | Voice, basic data | 14.4 kbps | 9.6 kbps | 1995-2008 |
| TETRA | 2G | - | ETSI | Circuit/Packet | TDMA | Professional/PMR | Public safety, emergency | 28.8 kbps | 7.2 kbps | 1995-ongoing |
| GPRS | 2.5G | GSM | ETSI/3GPP | Packet | TDMA/FDMA | Public mobile | Data services | 171 kbps | 40-60 kbps | 2000-ongoing |
| EDGE | 2.75G | GSM/GPRS | ETSI/3GPP | Packet | TDMA/FDMA | Public mobile | Enhanced data | 473 kbps | 100-200 kbps | 2003-ongoing |
| IMT-2000 | 3G | - | ITU-R | - | Various | Framework | 3G umbrella standard | 2 Mbps | - | 2000-ongoing |
| UMTS | 3G | GSM | 3GPP | Circuit/Packet | WCDMA | Public mobile | Voice, data, multimedia | 2 Mbps | 384 kbps | 2001-ongoing |
| WCDMA | 3G | CDMA | 3GPP | Circuit/Packet | CDMA | Public mobile | Air interface for UMTS | 2 Mbps | 384 kbps | 2001-ongoing |
| CDMA2000 | 3G | IS-95 | 3GPP2 | Circuit/Packet | CDMA | Public mobile | Voice, data | 2 Mbps | 153 kbps | 2000-2015 |
| HSDPA | 3.5G | UMTS/WCDMA | 3GPP | Packet | WCDMA | Public mobile | High-speed downlink | 14.4 Mbps | 1-3 Mbps | 2005-ongoing |
| LTE | 4G | - | 3GPP | Packet | OFDMA/SC-FDMA | Public mobile | High-speed data | 300 Mbps | 10-50 Mbps | 2009-ongoing |
| LTE-A | 4G+ | LTE | 3GPP | Packet | OFDMA/SC-FDMA | Public mobile | Enhanced LTE | 1 Gbps | 50-200 Mbps | 2013-ongoing |
| 5G | 5G | - | 3GPP | Packet | OFDMA/SC-FDMA | Public mobile | Ultra-broadband, IoT, URLLC | 10 Gbps | 100-1000 Mbps | 2019-ongoing |
| 6G | 6G | 5G | 3GPP (future) | Packet | TBD | Public mobile | AI-native, holographic | 1 Tbps | TBD | 2030-2040 (est.) |