Mirroring the intense debate surrounding analogue and digital satellite TV systems is that of digital and analogue cellular technology. While analogue technology currently holds sway in the cellular arena, the global move is towards implementation of more efficient and value-add digital technology.

The most succinct method of comparing digital and analogue is using the benefits of newer CD recording technology against that of older analogue-based vinyl gramophone music records.

In pure music terms, this means that analogue-recorded records are largely susceptible to scratching and hissing, while juggling the tracks around for optimal enjoyment is difficult.

Digitally recorded CDs on the other hand are more robust, store more music on a small platter, are largely hiss-free, and tracks can be juggled with ease.

In much the same way, analogue and digital technologies characterize the cellular world, each with their various implementations. There are proponents each for digital and analogue. Because of the sheer manufacturing and subscriber volumes involved globally, proponents of analogue see it’s more affordable call and handset cost as it’s most seminal benefit. This however is seen by digital proponents as false economy. Firstly, analogue cellular technologies are very susceptible to interception, in both illegal access to lines and interception of actual voice calls using simple radio "scanners". 

No doubt she now uses digital cellular technology, where because of the digital "juggling" effect, calls cannot readily be intercepted. GSM cellular uses a data encryption technique that provides an additional layer of call security, while the security provided by Equipment Identity Register and the PIN/PUK combination in SIM cards, further enhances digital’s security pedigree.

And unlike analogue phones, digital network access codes cannot be intercepted in the air by hackers to make free calls on another subscriber’s account. Digital signals are also much clearer than analogue calls, which are invariably characterized by lots of hissing noises.

Analogue technologies also have serious capacity problems, which means that in high-density areas, obtaining an outside line becomes a real problem. Digital technologies by and large make more efficient use of the available capacity by juggling a number a simultaneous calls together on one frequency. More calls can thus be handled by a particular base station which means that fewer base stations need to be installed - again lowering cost. With analogue, it’s usually one call per frequency.

In it’s innate ability to provide a range of Value Added Services, digital cellular technology wins hands down. It can offer facilities such as data/fax, Short Message Service (SMS), and Caller Line ID and Restriction, and Cell Broadcast. While tweaking of some analogue networks can provide a residual subset of these digital-centric services, this is the exception rather than the rule.