WCDMA (or W-CDMA) stands for Wideband Code Division Multiple Access.
WCDMA is direct spread technology, which means that it will spread its
transmissions over a wide, 5MHz carrier. Hence the name W (wideband) CDMA.
WCDMA is the leading 3G wireless standard in the world today. It was adopted
as a standard by the ITU under the name "IMT-2000 direct spread."
WCDMA is the technology used in the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
(UMTS), and with data rates up to 2Mbits it has the capacity to
easily handle bandwidth-intensive applications such as video, data, and image
transmission necessary for mobile internet services.
Operators such as Vodafone, Singtel, AT&T and TIM have chosen WCDMA/UMTS as
their 3G solution.
After slow growth for many years, it appears that 3G/WCDMA/UMTS is finally taking
hold -- preliminary figures indicate that as 2005 closed, there were 44 million
W-CDMA subscribers worldwide, an increase of 164% over the number registered at the
end of 2004.
The articles, resources and links below will help you through the maze of
alphabet soup and other jargon that surrounds this technology.
UMTS Networks: Architecture, Mobility and Services,
by Heikki Kaaranen (Editor), Siamäk Naghian, Lauri Laitinen, Ari Ahtiainen, & Valtteri Niemi.
Hardcover - 384 pages 1st edition (August 14, 2001).
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The Electronics Engineering Alliance (EIA) publishes
a number of standards applicable to the electronics industry in general and W-CDMA in particular.
Check them out for information on their standards development activities. For published standards, go to
EIA's distributor, Global Engineering Documents. Electronic copies
of many of the standards are available from IHS Engineering Products
Standards of interest include:
ITU-R M Series P2, International Mobile Telecommunications - 2000 (IMT-2000)
ATIS/T1.715, CDMA DS & TDD Radio Interference Specifications (June 2000)
J-STD-015, W-CDMA Air Interface Compatibility Standard for 1.85 to 1.99 GHZ PCS
Applications (Draft, December 1998).
TIA/EIA-95, Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband
Spread Spectrum Cellular System (Edition B, March 1999).
Developed by EIA's Engineering Department.
ATIS T1P1/97-020, Minimum Performance Requirements for W-CDMA Personal Stations
(Edition 96, September 1996).
