• 2G cdmaOne
• 3G
• 3G cdma2000 1x
• 3G CDMA2000 1xEV-DP
• 3G WCDMA

2G - cdmaOne  

cdmaOne: The Family of IS-95 CDMA Technologies  

cdmaOne describes a complete wireless system based on the TIA/EIA IS-95 CDMA standard, including IS-95A and IS-95B revisions. It represents the end-to-end wireless system and all the necessary specifications that govern its operation. cdmaOne provides a family of related services including cellular, PCS and fixed  

IS-95A: The first CDMA cellular standard  

TIA/EIA IS-95 (Telecommunications Industry Association / Electronic Industries Association Interim Standard - 95) was first published in July 1993. The IS-95A revision was published in May 1995 and is the basis for many of the commercial 2G CDMA systems around the world. IS-95A describes the structure of the wideband 1.25 MHz CDMA channels, power control, call processing, hand-offs, and registration techniques for system operation. In addition to voice services, many IS-95A operators provide circuit-switched data connections at 14.4 kbps. IS-95A was first deployed in September 1996 by Hutchison (HK).  

IS-95B: 2.5G  

The IS-95B revision, also termed TIA/EIA-95, combines IS-95A, ANSI-J-STD-008 and TSB-74 into a single document. The ANSI-J-STD-008 specification, published in 1995, defines a compatibility standard for 1.8 to 2.0 GHz CDMA PCS systems. TSB-74 describes interaction between IS-95A and CDMA PCS systems that conform to ANSI-J-STD-008. Many operators that have commercialized IS-95B systems offer 64 kbps packet-switched data, in addition to voice services. Due to the data speeds IS-95B is capable of reaching, it is categorized as a 2.5G technology. cdmaOne IS-95B was first deployed in September 1999 in Korea and has since been adopted by operators in Japan and Peru .

Please visit the TIA website for more information on CDMA standards.  

2G - cdmaOne Advantages  

When implemented in a cellular network, cdmaOne technology offers numerous benefits to the cellular operators and their subscribers:

•  Capacity increases of 8 to 10 times that of an AMPS analog system and 4 to 5 times that of a GSM system

•  Improved call quality, with better and more consistent sound as compared to AMPS systems

•  Simplified system planning through the use of the same frequency in every sector of every cell

•  Enhanced privacy

•  Improved coverage characteristics, allowing for the possibility of fewer cell sites

•  Increased talk time for portables

•  Bandwidth on demand  

2G - cdmaOne Deployments  

cdmaOne is the fastest growing 2G wireless technology reaching 100 million subscribers after only six years of commercial deployment.  

  cdmaOne Network diagram  

cdmaOne Roaming  

Roaming is a key functionality for wireless systems and cdmaOne offers many advantages to enable

CDMA2000 1X is an ITU-approved, IMT-2000 (3G) standard that was the first 3G technology to be commercially deployed (October 2000).

3G - Technology  

3G CDMA20001X  

CDMA2000 1X is an International Telecommunications Union (ITU) approved 3G wireless communications standard that provides voice and data capabilities within a standard 1.25 MHz CDMA channel for outstanding spectral efficiency and flexibility. CDMA2000 builds on earlier CDMA technology (known as cdmaOne) to provide a natural evolution to 3G services. It nearly doubles voice capacity over second-generation (2G) cdmaOne networks and supports high-speed data services, offering a peak data rate of 153 kbps.

CDMA2000 was first commercialized in October 2000 in South Korea . Since then, more than 70 operators on six continents have launched CDMA2000 services. Networks and devices supporting these services are backward compatible with those based on 2G cdmaOne, preserving operator spectrum and equipment investments, while providing best-in-class voice capacity and effective data capability.

Well over 128 million people around the world now subscribe to 3G wireless services based on CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS). Services based on these ITU-approved standards have been launched by 104 operators in 46 countries.  

3G systems provide more capacity, backward compatibility with second-generation (2G) systems, multimedia support and high-speed packet data services. CDMA2000 and WCDMA are based on CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access).11

CDMA20001X  

CDMA2000 1X is an International Telecommunications Union (ITU) approved 3G wireless communications standard that provides voice and data capabilities within a standard 1.25 MHz CDMA channel for outstanding spectral efficiency and flexibility. CDMA2000 builds on earlier CDMA technology (known as cdmaOne) to provide a natural evolution to 3G services. It nearly doubles voice capacity over second-generation (2G) cdmaOne networks and supports high-speed data services, offering a peak data rate of 153 kbps.

CDMA2000 was first commercialized in October 2000 in South Korea . Since then, more than 70 operators on six continents have launched CDMA2000 services. Networks and devices supporting these services are backward compatible with those based on 2G cdmaOne, preserving operator spectrum and equipment investments, while providing best-in-class voice capacity and effective data capability.

CDMA2000 1X technology benefits wireless operators in many ways.  

First, it generates a maximum data rate of 307Kbps and a typical speed of 144Kbps  

CDMA2000 1X offers speeds much higher than the data rate of dial-up modems and even outpaces ISDN.  

Second, CDMA2000 1X supplies twice the voice capacity of current cdmaOne networks and six times the capacity of GSM or TDMA systems.  

In other words, the increase in CDMA2000 1X data capacity does not come at the expense of voice services.  

Third, CDMA2000 1X has a definite cost-savings advantage over other 3G technologies.  

By leveraging the capabilities of existing cdmaOne technology, CDMA2000 1X maximizes network flexibility and lets carriers retain their investment. Instead of introducing 3G in the entire coverage area, CDMA2000 1X can initially target densely populated areas and business districts that require more capacity and increased data rates.  

All of these benefits are achievable within the same spectrum bands in which a cdmaOne carrier currently operates, as well as the IMT bands. Understanding that spectrum is an expensive resource, carriers using CDMA2000 1X will be able to launch 3G in their existing bands.

In addition, CDMA2000 1X is an integrated voice and data platform. Carriers do not need to set aside channels in order to make room for 3G network enhancements.

CDMA2000 1X is band-neutral and not limited to 2100 MHz IMT spectrum. The increase in network capacity lets CDMA2000 operate in cellular and PCS frequencies-450 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1700 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz-as well as the IMT band. In addition, CDMA2000 delivers 3G while occupying the same amount of bandwidth (1.25 MHz per carrier) as a 2G network.  

There are more advantages to CDMA2000 1X-beginning with cdmaOne, which uses off-the-shelf, low-cost routers, an IP gateway and packet switching. Because packet data is already built into the cdmaOne standard, carriers do not need to add packet overlays and backbone for an existing circuit-switched network. With a choice of standard routers from a wide range of manufacturers, carriers reduce their infrastructure costs while ensuring interoperability. Expensive equipment upgrades are not required in a migration to CDMA2000 1X. Operators only add channel cards and software enhancements to base station controllers and base transceiver stations.

To maintain the bottom line, carriers must recoup their 3G investment as quickly as possible. In most cases, the cost of additional spectrum and higher-priced infrastructure must be passed along to the subscribers.

However, lower network outlays and superior spectrum efficiency on existing frequencies give CDMA2000 1X carriers the cost advantage to keep 3G services affordable. Besides low-cost 3G services, customers gain other important benefits. Through improved management of power resources, CDMA2000 1X doubles handset standby time and significantly extends battery life. Also, end-user devices are backward- and forward-compatible. To work on a 3G network, CDMA2000 devices will need new chipsets but can use existing designs and software applications. However, unless a subscriber wishes to take advantage of the cutting-edge 3G data capabilities (including music downloads, video and image transfer), a cdmaOne device will operate on CDMA2000 1X networks and all future upgrades.

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO  

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is an evolution of CDMA2000 and an approved 3G standard for fixed, portable and mobile applications. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is "data optimized," providing a peak data rate of 2.4 Mbps.

The first 1xEV-DO commercial service began in January 2002. There are already more than 12 million 1xEV-DO users today, with many more networks expected to launch this year and next.

Mobile communication has been expanding its area from voice services to data services as it evolves from the first-generation analog mobile communication through the second-generation digital mobile communication and to the third-generation CDMA2000 mobile communication.

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO technology is a high performance and cost effective Internet solution for consumers and business professionals. It offers high speed, high capacity wireless Internet technology, which is compatible with CDMA networks and optimized for packet data services. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO offers a combination of high performance and economic benefits which is unprecedented in systems capable of providing portable, mobile, and fixed services. 1xEV-DO achieves this performance with minimized network and spectrum resources to provide a highly spectrally efficient technology.

The phenomenal growth of Information Technology and the Internet, and the general population desire for timely information services, create a need for a high performance wireless Internet technology. Trends such as PC-on-a-Chip, wireless-capable Personal Digital Assistants, Smart Phones and Auto PCs point to the availability of a large number of new data-capable devices, enabling each of us to communicate wirelessly anytime, anywhere. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO is the ideal technology for providing such wireless Internet services, and is founded on a proven wireless technology and a solid economic foundation.  

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO systems are designed to be highly interoperable with CDMA systems. Leveraging from the same RF characteristics as IS-95/1X CDMA, dual-mode IS-95/1X and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Access Terminals can be offered in a compact and cost-effective manner. Within a given network, dual-mode IS-95/1X and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO devices allow users to access voice services via the IS-95/1X frequency carrier, while receiving data services through the CDMA2000 1xEV-DO frequency carrier while Wireless subscribers will benefit from the excellent IS-95/1X voice quality, as well as CDMA2000 1xEV-DO high performance data services and mobile flexibility. CDMA2000 1xEV-DO system supports to interoperate with IS series channels (IS-95 series and IS-2000), and accordingly supports the backward compatibility for functions of the conventional systems including vocoding, low-speed data service, fax service, short message service (SMS), medium-speed data service and handoff. In addition, CDMA2000 1xEV-DO system is capable of supporting both voice and data services, and can efficiently be applied to the evolution of services to CDMA2000 1xEV-DV (voice and high-speed data service).

In short, the integrated CDMA2000 1xEV-DO system provides super-highway multimedia information and communication services demanding the current voice and data services and variety of application services, and will easily meet requirements for evolution of mobile telecommunication in the future. An integrated CDMA2000 1xEV-DO solution will provide enhanced capacity for voice users plus a cost-effective 2.4 Mbps data offering, fully realizing the convergence of the Internet and wireless technologies. This integrated solution offers operators accelerated time to market for voice and data products with significant deployment cost savings.

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO will lead to a sharp increase in the number and variety of services available compared with current wireless and even most wire line communication systems. Data communications is expected to achieve a larger market share than voice communications in the future. The Internet will be one of the major drivers in this development, leading to increased traffic from Mobile users fulfilling their demands for goods, entertainment and information.

CDMA2000 1xEV-DO delivers capabilities for the effective use of advanced services and applications (Interactivity, Mobility, Broadband and Positioning).

WCDMA (UMTS)  

1. 3G Systems  

3G Systems are intended to provide a global mobility with wide range of services including telephony, paging, messaging, Internet and broadband data. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) started the process of defining the standard for third generation systems, referred to as International Mobile Telecommunications 2000 (IMT-2000). In Europe European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) was responsible of UMTS standardization process. In 1998 Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) was formed to continue the technical specification work. 3GPP has five main UMTS standardization areas: Radio Access Network, Core Network, Terminals, Services and System Aspects and GERAN.  

3GPP Radio Access group is responsible of

•  Radio Layer 1, 2 and 3 RR specifications Iub, Iur and Iu Interfaces

•  UTRAN Operation and Maintenance requirements

•  BTS radio performance specification

•  Conformance test specification for testing of radio aspects of base stations

•  Specifications for radio performance aspects from the system point of view

3GPP Core Network group is responsible of

•  Mobility management, call connection control signaling between the user equipment and the core network.

•  Core network signaling between the core network nodes.

•  Definition of interworking functions between the core network and external networks.

•  Packet related issues.

•  Core network aspects of the lu interface and Operation and Maintenance requirements

3GPP Terminal group is responsible of

Service capability protocols

Messaging

Services end-to-end interworking

USIM to Mobile Terminal interface

Model/framework for terminal interfaces and services (application) execution

Conformance test specifications of terminals, including radio aspects

3GPP Services and System Aspects group is responsible of

•  Definition of services and feature requirements.

•  Development of service capabilities and service architecture for cellular, fixed and cordless applications.

•  Charging and Accounting

•  Network Management and Security Aspects

•  Definition, evolution, and maintenance of overall architecture.  

In February 1992 World Radio Conference allocated frequencies for UMTS use. Frequencies 1885 - 2025 and 2110 - 2200 MHz were identified for IMT-2000 use. All 3G standards are still under constant development. In 1999 ETSI Standardization finished for UMTS Phase 1 (Release '99, version 3) and next release is due December 2001. Most of the European countries and some countries round the world have already issued UMTS licenses either by beauty contest or auctions.  

2. UMTS Services  

UMTS offers teleservices (like speech or SMS) and bearer services, which provide the capability for information transfer between access points. It is possible to negotiate and renegotiate the characteristics of a bearer service at session or connection establishment and during ongoing session or connection. Both connections oriented and connectionless services are offered for Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint communication.

Bearer services have different QoS parameters for maximum transfer delay, delay variation and bit error rate. Offered data rate targets are

•  144 kbits/s satellite and rural outdoor

•  384 kbits/s urban outdoor

•  2048 kbits/s indoor and low range outdoor

UMTS network services have different QoS classes for four types of traffic

•  Conversational class (voice, video telephony, video gaming)

•  Streaming class (multimedia, video on demand, web cast)

•  Interactive class (web browsing, network gaming, database access)

•  Background class (email, SMS, downloading)

UMTS will also have a Virtual Home Environment (VHE). It is a concept for personal service environment portability across network boundaries and between terminals. Personal service environment means that users are consistently presented with the same personalized features, User Interface customization and services in whatever network or terminal, wherever the user may be located. UMTS also has improved network security and location based services.  

3. UMTS Architecture  

A UMTS network consist of three interacting domains; Core Network (CN), UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) and User Equipment (UE). The main function of the core network is to provide switching, routing and transit for user traffic. Core network also contains the databases and network management functions.

The basic Core Network architecture for UMTS is based on GSM network with GPRS. All equipment has to be modified for UMTS operation and services. The UTRAN provides the air interface access method for User Equipment. Base Station is referred as Node-B and control equipment for Node-B's is called Radio Network Controller (RNC).
It is necessary for a network to know the approximate location in order to be able to page user equipment. Here is the list of system areas from largest to smallest.

•  UMTS systems (including satellite)

•  Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)

•  MSC/VLR or SGSN

•  Location Area

•  Routing Area (PS domain)

•  UTRAN Registration Area (PS domain)

•  Cell

•  Sub cell  

4. Core Network  

The Core Network is divided in circuit switched and packet switched domains. Some of the circuit switched elements are Mobile services Switching Centre (MSC), Visitor location register (VLR) and Gateway MSC. Packet switched elements are Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). Some network elements, like EIR, HLR, VLR and AUC are shared by both domains.

The Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is defined for UMTS core transmission. ATM Adaptation Layer type 2 (AAL2) handles circuit switched connection and packet connection protocol AAL5 is designed for data delivery.

The architecture of the Core Network may change when new services and features are introduced. Number Portability DataBase (NPDB) will be used to enable user to change the network while keeping their old phone number. Gateway Location Register (GLR) may be used to optimise the subscriber handling between network boundaries. MSC, VLR and SGSN can merge to become a UMTS MSC.

5. Radio Access  

Wide band CDMA technology was selected to for UTRAN air interface. UMTS WCDMA is a Direct Sequence CDMA system where user data is multiplied with quasi-random bits derived from WCDMA Spreading codes. In UMTS, in addition to channelisation, Codes are used for synchronisation and scrambling. WCDMA has two basic modes of operation: Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD). UTRAN interfaces are shown on UMTS Network page.

The functions of Node-B are

• Air interface Transmission / Reception
• Modulation / Demodulation
• CDMA Physical Channel coding
• Micro Diversity
• Error Handing
• Closed loop power control

The functions of RNC are

• Radio Resource Control
• Admission Control
• Channel Allocation
• Power Control Settings
• Handover Control
• Macro Diversity
• Ciphering
• Segmentation / Reassembly
• Broadcast Signaling
• Open Loop Power Control

6. User Equipment  

The UMTS standard does not restrict the functionality of the User Equipment in any way. Terminals work as an air interface counter part for Node-B and have many different types of identities. Most of these UMTS identity types are taken directly from GSM specifications.

 International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)

Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI)

Packet Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (P-TMSI)

Temporary Logical Link Identity (TLLI)

Mobile station ISDN (MSISDN)

International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI)

International Mobile Station Equipment Identity and Software Number (IMEISV)

UMTS mobile station can operate in one of three modes of operation

•  PS/CS mode of operation: The MS is attached to both the PS domain and CS domain, and the MS is capable of simultaneously operating PS services and CS services.

•  PS mode of operation: The MS is attached to the PS domain only and may only operate services of the PS domain. However, this does not prevent CS-like services to be offered over the PS domain (like VoIP).

•  CS mode of operation: The MS is attached to the CS domain only and may only operate services of the CS domain.

  UMTS IC card has same physical characteristics as GSM SIM card. It has several functions

•  Support of one User Service Identity Module (USIM) application (optionally more that one)

•  Support of one or more user profile on the USIM

•  Update USIM specific information over the air

•  Security functions

•  User authentication

•  Optional inclusion of payment methods