In just a couple of decades, mobile devices have become essential tools that most of us cannot live without. It is hard to imagine a life without having a device in your pocket that gives instant access to information, productivity tools and social interaction.

From the basic voice communications afforded by 1st and 2nd generation systems through to the increasingly speedy data connections afforded by later generations, mobile technology has evolved greatly over the years and looks to have even greater potential in the future.

PTT has always been at the forefront of training on mobile technology subjects and understands the importance of keeping up to date with technological developments. The agility offered by e-learning means we can keep our courses constantly up to date, which is incredibly important when discussing ever evolving subjects such as mobile technologies.

PTT has just released an updated version of the “Introduction to mobile systems” course. This course introduces concepts which are used in most types of mobile systems, like handover and roaming, and cellular traffic handling. The course also reviews the various generations from 2G to 5G comparing their performance, and operation, and network structure.

The growth of fibre to the premises continues with the UK operator Openreach announcing that their “full fibre” broadband is now available to 10 million homes with 3 million of these residing in hard to reach rural areas. Their ultimate goal is to reach 25 million homes by the end of 2026.

But there is an alternative to fibre especially where providing fixed lines to homes in scattered communities is uneconomic. Fixed wireless access (FWA) using 5G technology is emerging as a competitive option for broadband in both developed and emerging markets.

And it’s not just rural communities that could benefit from FWA. For example, major operators in the USA see a huge opportunity for FWA in urban areas where cable customers are dissatisfied with their existing broadband service.

Operators in western Europe are also now providing FWA with EE planning to cover 90% of the UK with 5G FWA by 2028.

So, although some have doubted the claimed benefits of the role out of 5G mobile services given the large investment required, the use of 5G technologies for FWA will realise their full potential.

The PTT online course Wireless communications introduces the principles of FWA while other PTT courses provide a detailed treatment of 5G technologies.

The pace at which mobile technologies are developing shows no sign of abating, with networks becoming faster, more robust and with ever increasing coverage. In coming years, mobile technologies will be used for a growing number of innovative uses in many industries. With their faster speeds and lower latency, mobile networks now rival fixed-line broadband for consumers, especially in emerging markets where wireless services can be deployed faster than building wired infrastructure.

To keep abreast of the latest developments in mobile technology, PTT has released an updated version of its “Wireless communications” course. This self-paced online course is ideal for those who require an appreciation of the technologies used in wireless networks without the need for too much technical detail. The course can be used as a pre-requisite for the study of PTT’s more advanced courses covering mobile radio communications.

PTT has several courses covering mobile and wireless networks and services including new courses covering 4G and 5G access networks and advanced mobile systems designed for those who are already or intend to be working on modern mobile networks.