2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 89: Science and Technology

Which among the following do/does not belong/belongs to the GSM family of wireless technologies ?

aEDGE
bLTE
cDSL
dBoth EDGE and LTE

AnswerThe answer is (c).

GSM is the mobile standard from which EDGE (an enhancement of 2G data) and later UMTS/HSPA and LTE evolved within the 3GPP family, so EDGE and LTE belong to the GSM family of wireless technologies. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a wired broadband technology that runs over telephone lines. Remember: GSM family = GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA, LTE; DSL = copper-line broadband.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) EDGE is a GSM-family data enhancement.
  • (b) LTE is the 3GPP standard that evolved from GSM and UMTS.
  • (c) Right: DSL is wired and is not GSM-based.
  • (d) Both do belong to the GSM family, so this is wrong.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.