What is the full form of EDGE

EDGE: Enhanced Data Rates for GSM (Global System for Mobile) Evolution

EDGE is an enhanced version of GSM and offers high speed 3G built on GSM. It is type of data system used on GSM network used to allow improved data transmission rates.It can transmit three times more bits than GPRR in the same length of time. EDGE is an "add-on" to GPRS, it cannot work alone. It was deployed on GSM networks by AT&T in 2003 in the United States.

Data Speed

EDGE has successfully replaced GSM without disrupting the existing frequency reuse scheme. Technically, EDGE provides a speed of 384kbps (which is much higher than data rate of GPRS) but labeled as 2.75G by industry.

Key Elements added in EDGE

• Use of 8PSK: Modulation format has been changed to 8PSK which provides the advantage to convey 3 bits per symbol.
• Base station: Some small changes have been made in the base station.
• Upgrade to network architecture: It offers IP based transfer rate which makes it necessary to add some more network elements.
• Mobile stations:To use EDGE facilities, it is mandatory to gave a GSM EDGE handset because each and every set can't be upgraded.

Features

• Provide increase data rate, e.g. high speed on GSM radio carriers as provided by broadband.
• It can retransmit a packet with more robust coding which means re-segmentation is possible.
• In EDGE packets are addressed up to 2048 while in GSM it is from 1 to 128.
• Similarly EDGE has a window size of 1024 and GSM window size was 64.
• EDGE reduces the number of bursts to retransmit when error occurs.
• It allows multimedia file transfer, web browsing and video conferencing through wireless terminals.
• It enables operators to triple the data rate of subscribers and provide extra capacity to their voice communications.
• It requires less radio resources to support the same traffic as supported by GSM networks.