AMPS

Advanced Mobile Phone System

The first commercially available analog cellular system and served as the foundation for the first generation (1G) of mobile wireless communication. Developed by Bell Labs in the 1970s, AMPS was introduced in the United States in 1983 and became the predominant cellular technology during the 1980s and early 1990s.

AMPS operated in the 800 MHz frequency band and used Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) for channel allocation. It employed analog modulation techniques to transmit voice signals over the airwaves. AMPS provided basic voice call capabilities, allowing users to make and receive calls while on the move within the coverage area.

However, AMPS had some limitations compared to modern digital cellular systems. It lacked features like encryption, which made conversations susceptible to eavesdropping. AMPS also had limited capacity, meaning it could support a limited number of simultaneous calls per cell. The technology also suffered from reduced call quality due to analog signal degradation and interference.

AMPS served as the foundation for subsequent digital cellular technologies, such as 2G (Second Generation) systems like GSM and CDMA. As technology advanced, AMPS networks were gradually phased out and replaced by more efficient and capable digital cellular networks.

• Abbreviation: AMPS