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GSM vs. CDMA: Sparring On
Techtree News Staff Email Print
2004-11-05 14:01:20

http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/showstory.jsp?storyid=56037

The forum representing the leading GSM/3G suppliers worldwide, GSA, has rejected the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's proposal on allocation of frequencies to existing CDMA operators in India.

GSA rejected the proposal saying the upper frequencies conflict with the internationally agreed IMT-2000 spectrum plan identified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for 3G/IMT-2000 systems. These systems support both WCDMA (GSM path to 3G) and cdma2000 (CDMA path to 3G) systems developed for deployment on a co-existing basis. Such systems, it says, ensure all operators and users benefit from 3G for enhanced voice and data services, better scale economies and international roaming.



It also says that severe interference between existing CDMA base stations and users of 3G systems will reduce service quality and performance of 3G systems. This would then lead to higher costs and restrict competition.

Alan Hadden, President, GSA, said, "The solution is to move to 3G as quickly as possible. The IMT2000 core band is standardized to accommodate both WCDMA and cdma2000 technologies, and there are no harmful interference mechanisms between the two technologies when deployed in the IMT2000 band. GSM and CDMA operators would be able to address short-term capacity needs for both voice and data, as soon as the band is allocated to them."

"All operators would compete on a truly level playing field, with enough capacity and with access to their logical evolution path, on equal terms. This would stimulate competition to a new level - Indian consumers and enterprises will benefit, and help the economy to further grow," he added.

The body is opposing deployment of a mixed plan for India saying it's not feasible.