CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. CDMA was developed by QUALCOMM. This technology is used in UHF (ultra-high-frequency) cellular phone systems in the 800 megahertz (MHz) and 1.9 gigahertz (GHz) bands. It is basically a form of complexing, which allows numerous signals to copy a single transmission channel, without exceeding the available bandwidth. It works on the digital-to-analog (ADC) technology. The audio input is first digitized into binary elements.
Advantages:
- It offers increased cellular communication security, by not being easily decryptable.
- Consumes less power and gives better coverage.
- No synchronization is required.
- It is relatively easier to add many numbers of users.
- It has a very high spectral capacity so it can accommodate more users per MHz of bandwidth.
- The dropouts occur only when the phone is twice as far from the base station.
Disadvantages:
- The CDMA system is very complicated.
- With the increase in the number of users, the overall quality of services decreases.
- The time that is required for sending and receiving data and signals is huge.
- Doesn’t work in international roaming.
- It is costly.
Applications:
- The most important and most familiar usage of CDMA is linked with GPS (Global Positioning System).
- It is used for over-the-air activation and also for personal communication services.
- It is used in Bluetooth, phone companies, radar and navigation systems, and wireless laptop modems, and is also used for subscriber access control.
What is the importance of CDMA in today’s cellular world?
Most importantly, moving towards 4G technology is compatible with CDMA technology, and there is a smooth transition to digital standards involved. It is also viewed as a replacement for the technology of TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) which is a digital modulation technique used in digital cellular telephone and mobile radio communication. CDMA is considered the highest mode of wireless communications and is responsible for giving fast and safe modes of data exchange such as 3G. The use of CDMA offers several advantages that’s why CDMA technology is adopted by many of the 3G cellular telecommunications systems. Also, by using CDMA technology, it is easy for a terminal to communicate with two base stations at once. It emerges as a winner in the battle of wireless technology and services. It allows far greater development and the use of broadband devices such as wireless laptop modems, GPS system units, and other devices. CDMA provides high-speed push-to-talk and push-to-email services which gives mobiles the ability to be used as a walky-talky device. Therefore, it is good for business purposes too.