3G is a family of standards for wireless communications, defined by the International Telecommunication Union. It includes various standards, such as GSM EDGE, UMTS, DECT and WiMAX. They are mainly used to provide wireless internet connectivity using mobile phone frequencies.
3G allows for simultaneous use of voice and data at high speeds. Speeds can be up to 14.4 Mbit / s for downloads, and up to 5.8 Mbit / s for uploads. Due to this bandwidth, it allows a wide array of services, like voice telephony (VoIP), full internet access, video-calls, to function properly.
In order to use 3G for network connectivity, the following is needed:
1. A valid data plan with a 3G wireless carrier (usually part of a mobile telephony subscription at extra cost).
2. a SIM card for a 3G wireless carrier.
3. A device, supporting 3G communication, such as a smartphone or netbook.