The Evolution of Wireless Mobile Communication from Pre-Cellular to 6G and the Effects of the Digital Divide and Digitization in Nigeria

Wireless technology is undergoing rapid evolution. Since the inception of radio telephony in the pre-cellular generation, the evolution of mobile communication has experienced exponential growth. This paper provides an overview of the evolution of mobile communication from the pre-cellular generation to the fifth generation (5G), including the history, technical features, capabilities, application areas, modulation techniques, and network architectures. Furthermore, it examines emerging technologies in the sixth generation (6G), its concepts, requirements, features, benefits, research challenges, and transformative potential. The paper also contributes significantly to discussions on the digital divide, using Nigeria as a case study, including the causes, impacts, and ways of bridging the gap, as well as the effects of digitization and improved connectivity and the impacts of emerging solutions.