CDMA 1X Technology–High Speed Data and Voice

merging Wireless Technologies

                     CDMA 1X Technology–High Speed Data and Voice

Foreword: The Public Safety Wireless Network                   functionalities that overlaps with the needs
(PSWN) Program is conducting an ongoing                        of the public safety community.         This article
assessment of advancements in the wireless
                                                               discusses the evolution of these three
communications industry.   The scope of this
assessment is to identify emerging wireless services           technologies and presents the viable benefits
and technologies for potential public safety use in the        they may provide the public safety
near future and beyond.  This article focuses on the           community.
third generation CDMA-based 1x technologies.     This
technology allows for high-speed data and enhanced
                                                                        Code Division Multiple Access
voice quality and capacity over CDMA networks.
                                                               (CDMA) is one of the wireless air interface
                                                               standards that is currently in the process of
                                                               transitioning from second generation (2G)
                                                               wireless to 3G wireless technology service
                                                               offerings.   CDMA2000 1X technology is the
                                                               standard that delivers the first of three 3G
                                                               modes.  CDMA2000 1x, delivers raw data
                                                               rates of up to 153 kilobits per second
                                                               (Kbps).    CDMA2000 1xEV, which includes
                                                               a data-only network as well as a data and
                                                    [1]        voice network, delivers raw data rates of 2
                                                               megabits per second (Mbps) and 5 Mbps,
         With the unparalleled growth of the                   respectively.  This article will explore these
Internet and Web-based products, mobile                        suites of 3G wireless technologies and their
users are continually looking for high-                        applications that will benefit the public
performance wireless Internet technology to                    safety community.
enhance their communications capabilities.
Third generation (3G) wireless technologies                    CDMA2000 1x
promise to take users into a new realm of
mobile computing, ranging from receiving                                CDMA2000 1x is a standard that
and sending e-mails, to watching streaming                     aims to bring high data rate capabilities to
videos, or even attending a video                              wireless communication products.  It
teleconference.  For the public safety                         supports both voice and 153 Kbps of data
community, this would translate to the                         using the same bandwidth configuration as
ability to access National Crime Information                   legacy IS-95A1 CDMA networks (i.e., 1.25
Center (NCIC) information such as still                        megahertz (MHz) channel bandwidth).             This
images and fingerprints at a relatively higher                 commonality gives 1x technology
speed than with current private wireless                       backwards compatibility with IS-95A – the
systems or with Cellular Digital Packet Data                   standards can co-exist in the same system.
(CDPD) technology.                                             When 1x technology is fully implemented,
                                                               users will not be required to discard their IS-
         1xRTT and the derivatives of                          95A handsets; however, the additional
CDMA2000 1x (i.e., 1xEV-DO and 1xEV-                           capabilities offered by 1x technology will
DV) are 3G wireless technologies that will                     not operate on IS-95A handsets.  1x
help deliver these more efficient and capable
wireless technologies.  These technologies                     1
                                                                IS-95A is the standard that outlines the protocol for
span a broad range of capabilities and                              cellular subscriber user/device mobility and uses
                                                                    CDMA as the air access technology

Emerging Wireless Services Assessment                     1                                                  May 2002