What is CDMA?
CDMA is an acronym for Code Division Multiple Access, which is also a radio telecommunication standard similar to GSM. It is based on the spread spectrum technology and makes optimal use of the available bandwidth.
In a CDMA system, each user’s signal is combined with a unique broadcast code, which transmits the signal in a wider bandwidth than the original data signal. CDMA technology offers many advantages, such as increased capacity, improved call quality, better security due to unique codes used for each user, increased resistance to interference and fading, and CDMA is widely used in wireless networks, including 2G, 3G, . some are 4G cellular networks. However, in many parts of the world, it has largely been replaced by other technologies such as GSM and LTE.
Advantages of CDMA
- It makes effective use of a fixed frequency spectrum.
- The quantity of Users is unrestricted.
- It offers an adaptable distribution of resources.
- Because it works with other cellular technologies, roaming across the country is possible.
Disadvantages of CDMA
- Time synchronisation is necessary.
- It is unable to provide international roaming, a significant GSM benefit.
- The more users there are, the worse the CDMA system performs.
- Since CDMA networks are relatively new compared to GSM networks, they are not mature.
- When utilising CDMA, code length should be carefully chosen as it may cause a delay.
- The general quality of the service declines as the user base grows.
Difference between GSM and CDMA
GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication Voices, while CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. GSM uses FDMA (Frequency division multiple access) and TDMA (Time division multiple access). GSM supports transmitting data and voices both at once, but CDMA does have not this feature. In contrast, only mobile phones from a set of whitelisted companies can be used with a CDMA network.