3G (short for 3rd Generation) is the general term for technologies and standards designed to combine high speed mobile access with IP [Internet Protocol]-based services. 3G will improve the performance of wireless services, including greater data speeds and improved capacity for accessing multimedia data.

The ultimate goal is to provide broadband, always-on access to Internet-based services.

The term is used to distinguish emerging wireless technologies from the earlier analog cellular phone systems (1G) and the digital technologies that succeeded them (and are still in use today).